Nearly 60 million tons, 120 billion pounds — that is how much food is wasted every year in the USA alone. Let’s notch it up a bit. This is 40 percent of the entire US food supply and 22 percent of municipal solid waste (MSW). And don’t even ask the cost of it! Its approximate value is nearly $218 billion. Let that sink in. Dampening right? Does it make you want to get up and take action? Simone Biles’ Olympics teammate is taking some action! Well, who is she?
It is the Leanne Wong Foundation, and as the name gives it away, this NGO is owned by Olympic champion Leanne Wong. The Leanne Wong Foundation is a nonprofit organization with the sole goal of helping those who do not have easy access to food. The idea came to Wong while she was in a Florida dining hall. While talking to Inside Gymnastics, today, she said, “I wanted it to be somewhat food-related, because I’ve always realized how much food gets wasted, and how much we take advantage of the food that we do have, and just knowing that so many countries and other people have no food.” That is true, many third-world countries have people who do not even have bread to eat.
Visiting the dining halls late at night made her notice that a lot of food was just being dumped. She talked to the hall staff and was told, “yeah, like, we have this leftover food, we can donate it, but someone needs to come pick it up.” That is when Wong decided to become the bridge that this donation could go through. But the big question was, “How are we going to get it to somewhere where it could be used? ” Answer – Grace Marketplace, which is the local homeless shelter here in Gainesville.
The Olympic gymnast further told inside gymnastics, “I’ve been delivering the food. I pack it up on the weekends and then get it delivered to the homeless shelters. Almost every week we have over 50 pounds of food, and probably up to 200 pounds, sometimes more or less.” The Leanne Wong Foundation was established in September 2024, and in 2024 alone, the foundation has carried out more than 18 Total Donations/Pickups, fed 7000+ people, and also donated 1154+ lbs of Food. Simone Biles and Leanne Wong rocked at the mats, and they rack in community service as well. Simone Biles herself does charity and community service, including being the voice for children.
Simone Biles isn’t behind when it comes to providing help. “It is my hope that everyone who needs a ‘Friend’ can have a Friend so they, too, can be fearless, courageous, achieve their big dreams, and have fun while doing it.” – Simone Biles. What you know today as the most decorated gymnast of all time was once a small girl who was growing up in foster care. Now, as of today, the 11-time Olympic medalist works with Friends of the Children. The organization was established in Portland, Oregon, in 1993, and it aims to nurture long-term relationships with foster youth to help them discover their life’s purpose and realize their potential.
Biles who was helped in her early childhood by them to achieve their dreams and face her challenges is now paying back. She said, “I know exactly what these kids go through and what they need to be successful when they’re older: having one constant person in their life from when they’re young, all the way through high school graduation.” The Olympian worked herself to bring this organization to Houston. She dedicated her second Wheaties box appearance back in 2023 to Friends of the Children. The star gymnast has been a strong advocate for the organization’s powerful impact.
