Rachael Ray's Non-profit Organization Yum-o!

Added Value

Added Value is a nonprofit organization that promotes the sustainable development of Red Hook, Brooklyn by nurturing a new generation of young leaders. This organization creates opportunities for the youth of South Brooklyn to expand their knowledge base, develop new skills and positively engage with their community through the operation of a socially responsible urban farming enterprise.

Added Value provides long-term training to neighborhood teenagers ages 14-19, offers educational programs to local elementary school students and leverages thousands of volunteers to revitalize local parks, transform vacant land into vibrant Urban Farms, improve access to healthy, safe and affordable food and grow an an economy that supports community needs. It achieves its mission through four main initiatives: Youth Empowerment, Urban Agriculture, Building a Just Food System, and Farm-to-Classroom programming. In addition, their Community Advisory Council represents 30 local, regional and national institutions that support our work to improve the neighborhood by creating youth leaders.

Through innovative partnerships with local restaurants, the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation and Farm-to-School initiatives, along with its farmers' market and CSA, Added Value is a thriving role model for community-based organizations across the country. Visit their website to learn more about Added Value.