(Credit: Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy. Sam Kass at the Villars Intitute – credit courtesy of Sam Kass.)

The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts announces Sam Kass—chef, author, former White House Senior Policy Advisor for Nutrition, Executive Director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! campaign, and Partner at Acre Venture Partners—as the 12th recipient of the Julia Child Award.

Bobby Stuckey, the 11th Julia Child Award recipient, shared the announcement at a private event at Godmothers in Summerland, California, during the Santa Barbara Culinary Experience. The presentation of the Award to Kass will be held at a special event this fall.

In addition to receiving the prestigious award, Kass will utilize the corresponding $50,000 grant from the Julia Child Foundation to support three different organizations: Urban Growers Collective (UGC), American Farmland Trust (AFT), and God’s Love We Deliver.

“Sam embodies Julia’s belief that food can be a powerful force for good,” said Eric W. Spivey, Chairman of The Julia Child Foundation. “Through his work across kitchens, boardrooms, government, writing, and investing, he has championed healthier, more equitable food systems while inspiring Americans to reconsider how they cook, eat, and think about food.”

For more than two decades, Kass has been a leading voice in advancing public health and the health of the planet. As Executive Director of Let’s Move! in the Obama White House, he helped drive a national effort to improve childhood nutrition. During his tenure, he also served as the Obama family’s personal chef and worked closely with the First Lady to establish the first major vegetable garden at the White House since Eleanor Roosevelt’s victory garden.

Kass continues to expand his influence through media and storytelling, including the upcoming documentary How to Live on Earth (expected June 2026) and his most recent book, The Last Supper: How to Overcome the Coming Food Crisis (Crown Publishing Group, October 2025).

“I am truly humbled to receive this honor,” said Kass. “I’m proud to use this opportunity to support Urban Growers Collective, American Farmland Trust, and God’s Love We Deliver to help advance solutions that build a healthier, more equitable, and sustainable food system.”

The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts centers on the importance of understanding the elements and origins of good food and the value of cooking. Since becoming operational, the Foundation has made over $3.7 million in grants.
Visit: juliachildfoundation.org or juliachildaward.com.

Urban Growers Collective (UGC) is a Chicago-based nonprofit farm that works to build economic opportunity for BIPOC urban growers and makers. UGC operates 11 acres across eight urban farms.
Visit: urbangrowerscollective.org.

AFT works to protect America’s farmland, support farmers and ranchers, and promote sustainable farming practices. Since 1980, AFT has helped permanently protect over 8 million acres of agricultural lands.
Visit: farmland.org.

God’s Love We Deliver prepares and home-delivers nutritious, medically tailored meals for people affected by life-altering illness. They serve 4 million meals annually to individuals in need.
Visit: glwd.org.

The Project explores the history and ongoing significance of food technologies and cultures in the U.S., featuring the exhibition “FOOD: Transforming the American Table,” anchored by Julia Child’s kitchen.

Press Contact:

Foxglove Communications
Alexandra Looney
jca@foxglovecommunications.com