Since 2010, we have supported Pre-K-12 students with Food Education that is part of teachers’ classrooms and fosters informed food choices.
See the Impact
Get your seat at the table for the culinary fundraising event of the year! For one night only, the brightest stars of Chicago’s food scene come together to raise funds for Pilot Light’s Food Education mission. Get your tickets today while they last!
Presenting Partner: Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Learn from the experts: Pilot Light Educator Ryan Johnson shares the inside scoop on all things teaching science through Food Education! Connect our Food Education Standards and the NGSS to enhance your curriculum and improve student outcomes.
Your gift in any amount supports Food Education in classrooms and communities throughout the year.
If your company matches gifts to nonprofits like Pilot Light, here are easy instructions on how to double the impact of your gift. We also have instructions on how to make a gift of stock.
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We are looking for individuals who are passionate about Food Education and creating impact through our programs to join our team!
Today`s Fellow Friday spotlight is on: Julie K.!
Julie K. has worked as an educator for over twenty years, most recently at Springside Chestnut Hill (SCH) Academy in Philadelphia. Working within SCH’s Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership, she grew particularly interested in how entrepreneurial mindsets and skills can drive more sustainable and just food systems—those that are climate-friendly, advance social progress, and offer pathways for economic development. As she searched for resources to support food-centered teaching and learning, she discovered Pilot Light’s Food Education Standards, which proved instrumental in shaping her 6th-grade “Food Entrepreneurship” class. In addition to teaching, Julie writes non-fiction books for young readers. Her recent series, Civic Eats, investigates ways kids can take action to improve food systems. While researching the series, she spoke with several Pilot Light alumni whose work inspired her to apply for the Fellowship.
Learn more about the new Civic Eats series here: https://www.chestnuthilllocal.com/stories/food-for-thought-sch-teacher-releases-civic-eats-series,41909
"I’m most excited to collaborate with the community of Pilot Light educators, especially around questions relating to the future of food. I want to explore how we can equip young learners with the agency, knowledge, and responsibility to reshape food systems in a warming, urbanizing world. What can we learn from the past? How can we innovate for the future? I can’t wait to explore these topics with my students, our school community, and the Pilot Light cohort." -Julie K.
Welcome to the Pilot Light community, and congrats on your new book series for young readers, Julie K.!
A Taste of What’s to Come ✨
We’re thrilled to introduce the three incredible mixologists joining us for this year’s Feed Your Mind Gala! They’re concocting some unbelievably delicious drinks to be paired with your one of a kind, chef prepared table-side meal!
Swipe to meet the mixology team ➡️
Peter Vestinos, Sparrow & Bisous
Meet Peter Vestinos, the creative force behind Bisous and Sparrow 🍸✨
We’re excited to welcome Peter as part of this year’s mixology team for the Pilot Light Feed Your Mind Gala!
Known for creating some of Chicago’s most distinctive drinking experiences, Peter brings a passion for hospitality, storytelling, and thoughtful cocktails to everything he does. From the lively energy and bold personality behind Bisous to the timeless, intimate atmosphere of Sparrow, both spaces offer their own unique take on what makes a great bar experience—one rooted in creativity, connection, and of course, an unforgettable drink.
This year, Peter will bring that same creativity to the Feed Your Mind Gala, joining an incredible group of chefs and mixologists coming together for one meaningful night in support of Pilot Light and its mission to empower the next generation through food education.
We can’t wait to raise a glass with you!🥂
Tickets are on sale now at feedyourmindgala.org
Meet Jeremy Barrett of Lemon!
This year, we’re excited to welcome Jeremy to the Pilot Light Feed Your Mind Gala as part of our incredible mixology team!
With years of experience behind the bar and a passion for the creativity that comes with cocktail-making, Jeremy has built a career rooted in hospitality, curiosity, and finding new ways to bring ingredients and flavors together. His work as a mixologist is about more than simply creating a great drink—it’s about experimentation, balance, and creating an experience that guests remember.
At Lemon, Jeremy continues to bring that creative energy and thoughtful approach to the bar, drawing inspiration from the ingredients, people, and moments that surround him.
For this year’s Feed Your Mind Gala, Jeremy will bring his talent and imagination behind the bar for a night filled with incredible food, cocktails, and community—all in su
