Peachtree Ridge Senior wins prestigious TAG Award for website aimed at ending hunger in our community
By: Aoife Healy
Peachtree Ridge Senior, Jack Griffin has created a website called FoodFinder for food insecure kids in the Gwinnett area. FoodFinder is a non- profit that leverages a mobile-native website that aggregates food resources. The website is designed to help children in need find their closest free food resource. The concept was a product of his Community Legacy Project he had started at the Duke TIP Summer Leadership Institute he attended in 2013.
The true inspiration for the project emerged after he saw two young children forced to live out of a truck. “I wanted to do something that would help to end this cycle of food insecurity for children,” said Jack, “But I wanted to contribute greater change than I could by volunteering at a food bank.”
The concept originally started as an app for smartphones but after consulting with industry experts the product direction shifted to a website. Raising funds to launch the site was his next priority. He created a campaign on Indiegogo and successfully raised $6,000. Collaborating with Innopl in Atlanta, website design began immediately and FoodFinder went live on May 15, 2013 covering over 90 food resources in Gwinnett County.
Jack has recently been recognized with the 2014 TAG Excalibur Award for Most Creative Solution to a Problem using Technology. The prestigious TAG Awards recognize Georgia companies that demonstrate the
best use of technology, typically provided by a third party, to solve complex business problems.
Following his Excalibur Award win, Jack made an appearance to speak at the Georgia State Board of Education on December 13th and will be a guest speaker at the Georgia Tech Student Day at the Capitol on January 13th.
While Jack is grateful for the recognition, he is more grateful that the award has brought attention to the resource he has provided. “It’s not about my accomplishments,” he said, “It’s about getting the word out there to those whom FoodFinder can help.”
Spread the word and check out the FoodFinder website at foodfinderga.org.
