With Gratitude: Reflecting on a Year of Impact
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
As I close out my year as Chair of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation, I am filled with gratitude for the opportunity to have served alongside so many dedicated donors, volunteers, partners, and staff who believe deeply in the present and the future of our profession.
It has been a meaningful and exciting year for the Foundation - one marked by generosity, growth, and continued investment in the students and professionals who will shape the future of food, nutrition and health.
Together, we celebrated tremendous milestones. In the last year, the Foundation provided over $1.35 million in funding to 380 RDNs, NDTRs and nutrition and dietetics students through scholarships, awards, research grants, and fellowships. These investments support students at critical points in their education, elevate research and evidence-based practice, recognize excellence across the field, and provide leadership and educational opportunities to practitioners.
This year also reminded us of the power of collective giving.
We reached an incredible milestone through the Make It a Million Scholarship Campaign. Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we exceeded our $1 million goal and raised $1,078,945 for scholarships. This campaign represents more than a fundraising achievement - it represents opportunity. It means more students can receive support as they pursue their dream of becoming nutrition and dietetics professionals, and it strengthens the pipeline of future leaders who will serve patients, clients, families, and communities.
During the Foundation’s Give Day on March 19, our community came together once again and raised nearly $40,000 in support of the Foundation’s mission. Every gift, whether large or small, helps open doors and move our profession forward.
None of this work happens without people. More than 130 volunteers contributed their time, expertise, and energy to the Foundation’s work this year, including the many volunteers who review scholarship, award, and research grant applications; support programs; serve on committees; and help ensure the Foundation’s impact continues to grow. I am deeply grateful for their leadership and service.
I am also grateful to every donor who made the decision to invest in the Foundation this year. Because the Foundation does not receive any portion of Academy member dues, donor support is what makes our programs possible.
As Academy membership renewal season continues and we embark on a new membership year, I hope you will consider adding a gift to the Foundation when you renew your dues. Your renewal can go further. A gift to the Foundation is a simple and meaningful way to extend your impact, support students and professionals across the field, and invest in the future of nutrition and dietetics.
Serving as Foundation Chair has been an honor. I am proud of what we have accomplished together, and I am even more excited for what is ahead. Thank you for your generosity, your service, and your commitment to advancing our profession and strengthening the health of the public through food and nutrition.
With deep gratitude,
Catherine Christie, PhD, RDN, LDN, FAND
2025-2026 Academy Foundation Chair
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