EP279 John Finn | Executive Director of The School Lunch Association

Send us Fan MailJoin us on Gale Force Wins Season 5 as we sit down with John Finn, the incredibly passionate Executive Director of the School Lunch Association in Newfoundland and Labrador.In this insightful conversation, John shares the powerful story behind the organization, from its humble beginnings in 1989 to its current operation in 46 schools, serving thousands of children daily. He reveals the critical need the program addresses, the challenges of operating a large-scale social enterprise, and the inspiring dedication of his 100-person team.You'll hear about:The origin story of the School Lunch Association and its mission to fight childhood hunger.John's personal journey, including his time as an elected member of the House of Assembly.The incredible $300,000 food rescue mission he led at the start of the pandemic.How the "pay what you can" model ensures confidentiality and accessibility for all families.The vital role of community support, corporate sponsors, and individual donations in sustaining the program.The future vision for expanding the program across Newfoundland and Labrador and beyond.Discover the immense impact the School Lunch Association has on children's lives and local communities. This episode is a must-watch for anyone interested in social enterprise, community development, and the power of giving back.Learn More & Support the School Lunch Association:Visit their website: schoollunch.ca0:00 Welcome to Gale Force Wins0:12 Meet John Finn, Executive Director of the School Lunch Association0:48 Promoting Charities on Gale Force Wins1:07 John Finn Introduces Himself1:19 About the School Lunch Association2:56 John's Background and Political Journey4:30 The School Lunch Association's Biggest Need7:39 Starting in a Pandemic: The $300,000 Food Rescue12:20 Current Operations: 46 Schools and 100 Employees17:15 The Impact of Providing School Lunches19:28 Economic Benefits of the Program20:49 Funding Model and Donations22:10 Government Support and National School Food Program23:59 How Corporations and Individuals Can Donate25:15 John's "Why": Feeding 12,000 Children28:17 The Rising Need for School Lunches28:53 The School Lunch Association as a Leader30:16 Next Steps for the Program31:58 John's Advice: Get Involved in Your Community32:28 How to Contact the School Lunch AssociationGale Force Wins started out simply as an inspirational podcast releasing episodes wherever you get your podcasts every Tuesday evening. We continue to do that every Tuesday but have expanded into custom content for clients. We also have perfected a conference and trade show offering where you can receive over 20 videos edited and posted to social media at the same time the event is unfolding.For businesses and organizations we also create digital content quickly and efficiently.Visit our services page here:https://galeforcewins.com/servicesTo message Gerry visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerrycarew/To message Allan visit: https://www.linkedin.com/in/allanadale/