Eat Learn Play Foundation

Eat. Learn. Play (elp) Foundation was formed primarily to provide grant funding and other support to tax-exempt organizations, with a particular emphasis on those organizations providing a positive impact for low-income children and families in the areas of: (i) hunger andnutrition, (ii) expanded opportunities and resources in education, and (iii) safe places and opportunities for physical activity. During 2022, elp achieved its mission through focused activities. Those activities include providing grants to organizations in the oakland area focused on youth development in nutrition, reading literacy and play-related activities. Elp provided three million nutritious meals to food-insecure children, distribution of 128,000 books to children and the renovations of six schoolyards in the oakland unified school district.

In 2022 elp continued the expansion of the Eat. Learn. Play. Bus, a mobile resource center community through 19 outings in which elp distributed 4,325 nutritious meals, 13,831 books, and a pop-up playground for kids in the form of a mobile food pantry and book mobile. The little town library program began through the installation of the initial 5 libraries which provide free, culturally appropriate books for kids. Two thousand oakland kids and families were treated to a festive day at the ballpark with the oakland a's. The children's golf program was expanded with 1,000 elp children's golf clubs distributed with accompanying lessons. Another major program of elp was its annual christmas with the currys event in which they bring holiday cheer to the oakland community. Together with sponsors and community partners, elp brought joy, resources, and an unforgettable winter wonderland experience to kids and families most in need. Last year's holiday celebration brought together over 2,000 residents across oakland, providing gifts and resources totaling more than $1 million.