Crisis Text Line and One Tree Planted Join Kids Help Phone and The Global Foodbanking Network As Charitable Partners For The Company’s First-Of-Its-Kind Philanthropic Program Which Puts The Power Of Giving Into The Hands Of Their Students
Today, Little Kitchen Academy (LKA), the key ingredient for an independent child and the first-of-its-kind Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen, announced two new partners for their first-of-its-kind philanthropic program How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, which puts the power of giving into the hands of their students. The two new partners, Crisis Text Line and One Tree Planted, will join The Global Foodbanking Network and Kids Help Phone as the charities LKA students can choose to support through the program. Every class in every location globally, students learn about LKA’s charitable partners, are given the chance to ask ‘how can I help,’ feel empowered to make a choice about what matters most to them, and learn that they can make the world a better place. LKA donates $1 on behalf of each student to the charity they choose to help. The company expects to donate more than $1M on behalf of their students by the end of 2025.
“I am so pleased to support two more organizations having an important impact on the world,” said Felicity Curin, co-founder/co-CEO and COO of Little Kitchen Academy. “We have already had thousands of students learn the importance of giving back to their community through How Can I Help over the past year. It is incredibly moving to watch them understand that they can have an impact on the lives of others and the pride they feel knowing that they have helped. Their kindness and compassion for others is inspiring.”
LKA’s philanthropic partners were chosen based the three pillars of their code of conduct: care of self, care of others, and care of environment. Kids Help Phone (for locations in Canada) and Crisis Text Line (for locations in the US) represent care of self, Global Foodbanking Network represents care of others, and One Tree Planted represents care of environment.
Crisis Text Line provides free, 24/7 high-quality text-based mental health support and crisis intervention, with close to 7 million conversations since 2013. “Little Kitchen Academy’s commitment to care of self aligns so well with what we do at Crisis Text Line,” said Tony Davis, director of corporate partnerships at Crisis Text Line. “We are grateful for their future support and for sharing that we are there for their students if they ever need help.”
One Tree Planted is a non-profit organization focused on global reforestation. They have planted more than 40 million trees in 43 countries since 2014. “We are excited for the opportunity to work with Little Kitchen Academy on their How Can I Help initiative. The trees planted as a result of this project will have positive impacts on nature, biodiversity, and people for years to come,” said Ashley Lamontagne, forest campaign manager at One Tree Planted.
With 7 locations now open in North America and more opening in the coming months, thousands of new students will experience How Can I Help by LKA in 2022. In addition to the $1 donated on behalf of each student by LKA, The Fulmer Foundation, founded by LKA Global Investor and Advisory Board Member Yuri Fulmer, OBC, will match all donations in 2022 made by LKA on behalf of their students for 2022, accelerating the company achieving their goal of $1M donated by 2025.
To reach more children with their How Can I Help program and share the key ingredient for an independent child with new communities, LKA is currently seeking like-minded multi-unit franchisees and development partners based exclusively in Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin. In Canada, there are limited opportunities in British Columbia, Ontario, and Alberta. Globally, Australia, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MENA region, Singapore, Spain, and the U.K. are markets available for development.
About Little Kitchen Academy
Little Kitchen Academy is the key ingredient for an independent child. The first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen is focused on providing a safe, inspiring, and empowering space for children to identify, develop, and refine their senses. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the concept was co-founded by proven global brand and franchise expert and serial entrepreneur Brian Curin, his wife, Montessori-trained, culinary expert, and visionary Felicity Curin, and social impact investor and entrepreneur Praveen Varshney, on the belief that by empowering children with practical life skills and knowledge in a positive and joyful environment, they and their company will effect positive lifestyle changes that result in a healthier world. True to its mission, LKA lives to create a more educated, able, and healthy society through mindful, healthy eating choices, and is committed to changing lives, from scratch to consumption. Part of that mission includes empowering students to learn how they can make the world a better place through How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, LKA’s signature philanthropic program, supporting Crisis Text Line, The Global FoodBanking Network, Kids Help Phone, and One Tree Planted. In addition to charitable partnerships, LKA has forged strategic global brand partnerships with Iron Chef Cat Cora, AeroGarden, BIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, Emeco, ChopValue, Welcome Industries, and PRISE Inc. Little Kitchen Academy’s flagship venues are located in Vancouver, B.C., and Los Angeles, Calif.
For a taste of Little Kitchen Academy, visit littlekitchenacademy.com or join its communities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.