A 501c3 NONPROFIT

FOOD SECURITY • CANCER SUPPORT • REGENERATIVE LAND SYSTEMS

Meet the People Behind growingtogive.org

Meet the people behind a growing movement advancing food security, cancer support, and regenerative land systems designed to strengthen communities for a world in transition.

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Meet the People Behind the Movement

Growing To Give® is powered by volunteers, advisors, and partners united by a simple belief: resilient communities begin with people helping people.

The volunteers, advisors, and partners behind Growing To Give®

"Life is all about the connections we make. Each connection becomes another thread in the tapestry of humanity. When the thread is fortified with courage from oneself and kindness for one another, the world becomes a living artwork of light strands woven together into a tightly-knit community of love."

We invite you to meet the people behind Growing To Give®—individuals united by the belief that resilient communities are built through connection, compassion, and action.

Creating an innovative international nonprofit from scratch amid a global crisis was a challenge we embraced with determination and hope. When Growing To Give® was founded, none of us anticipated that a world-altering pandemic would soon unfold. Rather than slowing our mission, it strengthened our resolve to serve others and build more resilient communities.

In early 2020, just months before the pandemic, Growing to Give became a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Despite the challenges that followed, we forged ahead. Our journey was far from easy. Unexpected frosts, scorching heatwaves, storage room theft, and even deer breaching our deer fence tested our resilience. Add wild windstorms and thick wildfire smoke, and it’s clear that every pound of food we grew and donated was a triumph of determination. Over time, our small but dedicated team of volunteers transformed a single acre of land into a lifeline for those in need, growing and donating more than 100,000 pounds of fresh, nutritious food to local food banks.

Resilience in Crisis

The pandemic exposed the fragility of food systems worldwide. Communities already struggling faced deeper hardships, while regions dependent on food imports were left with empty shelves. Across North America, food banks saw a dramatic drop in donations. Yet, these challenges reaffirmed our belief in the importance of local, sustainable food security projects.

Rising Stronger Together

As the world began to recover, so did Growing to Give. In December 2022, we took a leap of faith, posting a single LinkedIn volunteer opportunity for grant writers. What happened next was nothing short of extraordinary: a diverse and talented team united by a shared mission stepped forward, ready to transform our vision into reality. By mid-January, we had assembled an incredible group of fundraising strategists, operations managers, social media experts, public relations pros, and media specialists—all volunteers driven by their passion to end hunger.

Our Team

At the heart of Growing to Give is a group of visionary co-founders, dedicated board members, and a brilliant advisory board. These individuals are bound by their shared belief in the power of connection, courage, and kindness to create a better world.

Growing To Give® is powered by volunteers, advisors, and partners united by a simple belief: resilient communities begin with people helping people.

Together, we’re changing the world—one harvest at a time. Join us in growing a future where no one goes hungry.

Leadership & Board of Directors

chairperson

Siobhan Shaw

Co-founder

Siobhan Shaw - Co-founder/Chair

Siobhan, Co-founder and Chair of Growing To Give, brings her passion for people to the team. An advocate for women in agriculture, she has a passionate view of the human condition and a deep empathy for humanity. Linkedin

technology

John Kendall

Technology

John Kendall - Technology

Founder and Director of Strategic Initiatives at Growing To Give, leading the development and scaling of the Food Ambassador Program and innovative food security initiatives. Linkedin

fulfillment

Tom Erickson

Compliance

Tom Erickson - Compliance

Tom has over 28 years experience in product development, manufacturing, building construction and commercial management. He brings valuable experience and expertise in the supply of materials to GTG. Admin

Legal & Governance

John Warren

John Warren

Legal

John Warren - Legal

John Warren is an experienced lawyer who has worked in numerous areas as a sole practitioner, partner, in-house counsel and pro bono lawyer. He is passionate about environmental sustainability. Linkedin

Crystal Gothard

Crystal Gothard

Legal

Crystal Gothard - Legal

With over 25 years of experience as a lawyer, Crystal Gothard is a forward-thinking business advisor, senior counsel and intellectual property and commercial transactional lawyer with global experience. Linkedin

Racine Rambury

Racine Rambury

Legal

Racine Rambury - Legal

Racine is an experienced and compassionate advocate with a passion for promoting human rights and women's empowerment around the world. Racine is deeply committed to eradicating world hunger. Linkedin

Operations, Programs & Advisors

Balaji Vasudevan

Balaji Vasudevan, Ph.D

AgTech

Balaji Vasudevan, Ph.D - AgTech

Dr. Balaji Vasudevan is a global thought leader in agtech and sustainable food innovation. With 20 years of experience his work spans over 10 countries, advising startups, investors, and non-profits to build resilient, climate-smart food systems for the future. Linkedin

Stacey Alvarez

Stacey Alvarez de la Campa

Barbados

Stacey Alvarez de la Campa - Barbados

Stacey Álvarez de la Campa is a legal and educational consultant who contributes to sustainable development, climate education and human rights advocacy through her roles in various global organizations and initiatives. Linkedin

Justin Gardner

Justin Gardner

Grants

Justin Gardner - Grants

Principal Investigator, Methodologist, Philanthropist, Social Innovator, Facilitator, Inventor, Entrepreneur, Adventurer, System Integrator. Innovation isn’t a question of why, but a question of why not. Linkedin

Jan Van Der Westhuizenr

Jan Van Der Westhuizen

South Africa

Jan Van Der Westhuizen - South Africa

Jan drives our Growing To Give mission in South Africa by working with more than a dozen farms and community gardens along the Garden Route. We value his skills as a consultative strategist and project leader. Linkedin

Kristen Efurd

Kristen Efurd

Sustainability

Kristen Efurd - Sustainability

Kristen's career has spanned the food and waste landscape and has been grounded in regenerative management. Her expertise spans sustainable operations, supply chains and food systems, and the circular economy. Linkedin

joseph bilik

Joseph Bilik

South Pacific

Joseph Bilik - South Pacific

Joseph is passionate about the South Pacific islands, their communities and culture. His mission is to bring together businesses, governments and people to rapidly improve food security in the South Pacific islands. Linkedin

Lisa Roberts

Lisa Roberts

Texas

Lisa Roberts - Texas

Lisa brings decades of horticultural and business experience to Growing To Give through her work as a Master Gardener, Landscape Technician, and educator. We value her passion for sustainable growing, community education, and helping families reconnect with the land. Linkedin

Rebecca Bloom

Rebecca Bloom

Cancer Support

Rebecca Bloom - Cancer Support

Rebecca drives Growing To Give's cancer support mission through more than 27 years of advocacy for women facing breast and ovarian cancer. We value her compassion, expertise, and commitment to empowering others through difficult journeys. Linkedin

cancer support

Join Our Team

Cancer Support

Cancer Support - Cancer Support

Join our team in supporting individuals and families navigating the cancer journey. We value compassion, hope, and a shared commitment to helping others through life's most challenging moments. Linkedin




The strength of the team is each member. The strength of each member is the team.

- PHIL JACKSON