Meet The Team Behind this Initiative
Pilot Light is a 501(c)(3) Food Education nonprofit that partners directly with educators across the country who integrate food into everyday classroom learning. By making food relevant, exciting, and meaningful to Pre K-12 students during the school day, Pilot Light empowers them to become informed and active members of the food system. Pilot Light’s teacher-centered Food Education model makes learning exciting for students as they learn through food and about food’s relevance to themselves, their education, and their communities.
DNO Produce was founded in 1989 as a small co-op based in Columbus, Ohio. Since then, DNO has grown to become a leading distributor of bulk and fresh-cut produce for the Midwest. Their aim to transform how children consume fresh produce in the cafeteria, the classroom, and in their communities by offering over 90 fresh, quality produce offerings in approachable, creative, kid-friendly cuts paired with engaging educational materials to make for a memorable produce experience.
Meet Puprika!
Puprika is Pilot Light’s official Puppy Chef mascot, host of the Food Thoughts series, and lead SnackTime Explorer. Puprika enjoys making food fun and exciting for students, cooking in the Pilot Light kitchen, and exploring alongside SnackTime Explorers of all ages!
Our Timeline
Our journey began when DNO’s COO & President, Alex DiNovo, attended a White House event on diet and hunger-related diseases. Connecting with Pilot Lights' Executive Director, Alexandra DeSorbo-Quinn, they shared a vision for better child nutrition. This led to the creation of the Snacktime Explorers program, marking the start of our transformative history. Now impacting four Midwest districts, the program has touched the lives of hundreds children and empowered educators through engaging, professional development events.
The SnackTime Explorers pilot program launched in early 2023 in over 30 Chicago Public School classrooms! We have since expanded the program to reach Hammond and Indianapolis Public Schools in addition to CPS and are excited to continue to grow our reach in 2024 through our White House Commitment.