2016 Award Recipient
BrittanyParis Amano
Project The Future Isn't Hungry
Project The Future Isn't Hungry
Brittany’s family experienced housing insecurity and homelessness and relied heavily on the support of local food banks, beginning when Brittany was a young girl. Seeing first-hand how hunger and homelessness can lead to hopelessness, Brittany sought a way to stop the cycle. She became a role model for children across the country with her organization, The Future Isn’t Hungry, founded in Hawaii in 2010. The Future Isn’t Hungry provides school supplies, cooking lessons, and nutritious food for youth living in low-income housing, homeless shelters, and foster care. Brittany has engaged more than 100,000 volunteers to expand her project to all fifty states over the past six years, feeding over 900,000 people and raising $4,624,064 in funds and donations.
Brittany’s advocacy work has been recognized by the State of Hawaii and has earned her awards for her service work, including the Prudential Spirit of Community Award, the Peace First Price, Running Start’s Woman to Watch Award, and Variety Magazine’s Power of Youth Award. For her work on The Future Isn’t Hungry, Brittany received the National Jefferson Award in 2015, considered by many to be the Nobel Prize for Public Service. Brittany is the youngest person to be named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 list. She speaks across the country about her nonprofit work, including engagements at the White House and TedxHonolulu.