ANFP renames and re-launches its charitable foundation

As a part of its recently announced strategic rebranding initiative, the Association of Nutrition & Foodservice Professionals (ANFP) has renamed and re-launched its charitable foundation.

Formerly known as the DMA Foundation, the new Nutrition & Foodservice Education Foundation (NFEF) will be strongly focused on supporting education for nutrition and foodservice professionals while raising awareness of how the profession helps the public.

The Foundation also announced that ANFP Strategic Initiatives Director Kate Dockins will take on the duties of Foundation Director in addition to her strategic planning role at ANFP.

"We are delighted that Kate will lead this very important effort," said ANFP Foundation Chair Linda Hackworth, CDM, CFPP. "The new Foundation has an ambitious agenda and she has the skills and background to ensure our new mission and strategy moves forward."

The Foundation's new identity and mission is just the latest in a number of significant changes that are being rolled out in 2012 as a part of ANFP's transition from its former identity as the Dietary Managers Association.

The re-envisioned Foundation's general mission is to support and strengthen the foodservice and nutrition profession through research, education, charitable and awareness-building activities, enhancing the profession's ability to improve individual and public health.

Among its activities, the Foundation will support education through sponsorship of special events, scholarships for students, and promotion of the profession to new generations of students considering careers in nutrition and foodservice.

It will also support research and initiatives designed to develop best practices and better outcomes for the profession, and it will recognize nutrition and foodservice leaders who demonstrate excellence and commitment to professional service.

The Foundation will also support charitable causes related to nutrition and foodservice and will work with ANFP in its long-term effort to raise awareness of the importance and ongoing contributions of nutrition and foodservice professionals in the workplace, according to Dockins.

"This profession is filled with individuals who make a very tangible impact on the quality of life of people every day," Dockins said. "Our new Foundation will be devoted to making sure that those qualities of service, caring and excellence continue on in new generations of professionals."

"Our efforts will be geared toward deepening the knowledge, skills and expertise of everyone in the profession," she said, "and also toward the long-range goal of raising public awareness of the importance of proper nutrition and foodservice management in achieving good health."

The Foundation's longstanding scholarship programs will continue, she said, but they will be augmented via a new focus on fundraising. Other programming and initiatives will be announced later in 2012, Dockins said.