MEDIA GUIDE
Nourish International National Office
200 N. Greensboro St. Suite D-4
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 338-2599
info@nourish.org
Table of Contents
Who We Are...……………………………………………………………………………………………………..…3
 Boilerplate…………………………………………………………………………………………………..3
 Our Impact………………………………………………………………………………………………....4
 Staff Bios………………………………………………………………………………………………….…5
Press & Awards…...……………………………………………………………………….…………………….…8
Partnerships………………………………………………………………………………………......................9
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Who We Are
Nourish International is a student-run 501(c)3 nonprofit that partners with
economically disadvantaged communities abroad to make a lasting impact on extreme
poverty. College and high school students at 60 Chapters across the United States and
Canada operate social businesses on their campuses to invest the profits in poverty
reduction projects in the developing world. The Nourish approach is unique in that it
addresses the needs of communities with sustainable, scalable solutions, while
catalyzing tomorrow’s leaders to become lifelong agents of social change. Nourish was
founded in 2003 by students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
BOILERPLATE
Nourish International is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that invites students to be a
part of the solution to global poverty, providing them with the training, support and
creative space they need to make a lasting difference.
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OUR IMPACT
Nourish has graduated more than 900 student leaders, equipping them with the skills
they need to be lifelong agents of social change. Our innovative approach is breaking the
“charity” mold:
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Nourish Ventures leverage $7 for every $1 in expenses and impact the lives of
55,000 people living on less than $1.25 a day.
Nourish raises 50 percent of its funds through earned income to fuel growth
while sustaining excellence.
Nourish teaches social enterprise to train forward thinkers to contribute to an
innovative economy.
Each summer, Nourish Chapters implement sustainable development projects alongside
local partner organizations. Projects are selected based on their potential to empower
the community not just for the day, but for the future to eliminate poverty. For example:
Clean Water (2010)
Students from The Ohio State University Chapter partnered with MOCHE, Inc. in Cerro
Blanco, Peru, to construct a clean-water pipeline and reservoir for potable water that
will improve access to drinking, cooking and washing water. Students also planned and
hosted a community health fair for the surrounding pueblos, taught English at the local
school, and helped another Chapter construct latrines in Ciudad de Dios.
Health (2013)
Our University of New Mexico Chapter is continuing its partnership with Project
Amazonas in Iquitos, Peru, to construct a new health clinic. The clinic will serve 1,500
people in nine different nearby communities. It will not only greatly improve access to
healthcare and basic medical supplies for these communities, but also raise their
standard of living and promote healthier lifestyles.
Education (2013)
University of Texas-Austin students traveled to the Ganjam District in Odisha, India to
work with VIEWS. Students trained women in fishing communities to scale and grow
their own business ventures, manage a team, and expand to new markets. Funds from
the Chapters were invested in freezers to expand fish selling businesses, plant gardens
and coconut tress, and promote literacy through a signature writing campaign.
Environment (2011)
The Arizona State University and Cornell University Chapters teamed up with CO2
Bambu in Rosita, Nicaragua to build eco-stoves for 18 houses. These stoves require less
wood than open-hearth stoves and reduce carbon emissions. Upon finishing the stoves,
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students built bamboo houses for the community and a composting toilet for the factory
workers of CO2 Bambu, which they can use to fertilize reforestation efforts.
Technology (2010)
Students from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Chapter partnered with a
Women’s Co-op in Duzce, Turkey to provide marketing class sessions, training in
business management, product development and website design. Students provided
technology training for teachers, students and co-op members and assisted in
supplemental education activities at the cooperative, day care, and English conversation
lessons.
In 2014, Nourish sent 143 students abroad to implement 28 Projects, ranging from
computer literacy to greenhouse construction, in partnership with local community
organizations.
MEET THE STAFF
Kelly Leonhardt Phoenix, Executive Director
kelly@nourish.org
Kelly is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill with a double major in economics and dramatic
arts. Kelly joined Nourish from Urban Ministries of Wake
County, where she served as the Manager of Development
and Communications for nearly two years. While at Urban
Ministries, Kelly worked to fight local poverty to raise
awareness and funds through major campaigns for over
24,000 people in need each year. Kelly holds board
positions with Passage Home and the UNC Young Alumni Leadership Council. The
Triangle Business Journal recently recognized her as one of the ‘Top 40 Leaders Under
40 Years Old’. Kelly is a community volunteer with Band Together, Dress for Success
Triangle and many other non-profit organizations. She has traveled to Central and
South America, Europe, and the Middle East. She currently resides in Durham, North
Carolina.
Chancey Rouse, Program Director
chancey@nourish.org
Chancey graduated from the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill in May 2012 with a B.A. in history and political
science. After being very involved with nonprofit work in
college, she abandoned her plans to go to law school in
order to follow her passion and work in the nonprofit sector
full-time. She first joined Nourish in July 2013 as a program
associate.
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Alli Pulley, Program Associate
alli@nourish.org
Alli graduated from the University of Southern California
in May of 2013 with a B.A. in international relations with
concentrations in international development and global
gender issues. After graduation, Alli volunteered in
Northern Peru developing a Women’s Empowerment
program for a local non-profit. At Nourish, she works
with Chapters to helps students have a similarly lifechanging experience.
Juliette Brown, Program Associate
juliette@nourish.org
Juliette graduated from UCLA in 2014 with a B.S. in
psychobiology. She served as an active member of
GlobeMed at UCLA throughout her undergrad
experience. Her involvement with this organization
sparked a passion for sustainable global development
and the social justice aspect of global health. She served
as Director of Community Building during her Junior
year, Director of Development during her Senior year,
and spent the summer of 2013 working as a GROW
Intern with GlobeMed in Uganda.
Ellen Moore, Program Associate
ellen@nourish.org
Ellen graduated from Syracuse University in May 2014
with a B.A. in international relations and policy studies.
Her passion for international development took shape
as a result of her travels throughout college. She spent a
summer volunteering at a nonprofit in Israel, working
on fundraising for a women’s economic development
program, and studied in South Africa for a semester,
where she truly became interested in fostering
collaborations with community partners abroad. Ellen was lucky to find Nourish during
her junior year and is honored to have spent her senior year as the founding Chapter
Leader at SU.
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Madi Smith, Non-Profit Administration
Associate
madi@nourish.org
Madi graduated from the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill in May 2012 with degrees in Spanish and
global studies. While at UNC, she spent a semester
abroad in Quito, Ecuador and also had the opportunity
to travel and see impoverished communities firsthand
in Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Bulgaria and
Uganda. Since finishing school, Madi has worked with
local non-profits Stop Hunger Now and the United
Way and has received a graduate certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke
University.
Grace Herbener, Executive Assistant
grace.herbener@nourish.org
Grace graduated from Ohio State University in May of
2014 with a degree in international development
studies and a minor in Spanish. During her time in
college, Grace spent several semesters on the executive
board of OSU’s Nourish Chapter and also had the
opportunity to travel to Cameroon to spend five weeks
on a Nourish Project. She hopes to continue to work in
the field of international development and the
nonprofit sector in the future.
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Press & Awards
Nourish’s innovative approach has been recognized by organizations ranging from the
Peace Corps to the Millennium Campus Network. In 2008, Nourish was awarded the
North Carolina Peace Prize, which recognizes a non-profit agency in
the Tar Heel state
that promotes peace and cross-cultural understanding and shares the "helping others to
help themselves" ideology of the Peace Corps.
Nourish has been covered by major outlets like PBS News Hour, as well as through our
media partnership with The Huffington Post and local news sources. A full list of
coverage is available on our website.
Need a story angle? Check out our upcoming events or subscribe to our monthly
newsletter. For media inquiries, contact Kelly Phoenix at kelly@nourish.org.
Need pictures or videos? Videos are available on our YouTube page. Email us at
info@nourish.org to set up individual opportunities or to request pictures of past events.
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Partnerships
At Nourish, we seek to establish mutually beneficial relationships. We believe the key to
eradicating poverty is empowering community leaders who have sustainable, scalable
solutions. Nourish partners with communities who lack the necessary funds and
resources for development projects, but who have the entrepreneurial vision to eradicate
poverty. We act as a catalyst to help accelerate change that will endure beyond our
partnership. Each Chapter finds and selects their community partner organization
independently, with support and oversight from the National Office. A full list of
partners is available on our Projects History page.
We also recently launched an online store, Shop Nourish, which directly supports the
efforts of Nourish International. We form partnerships with nonprofits and artisans in
developing countries to bring customers meaningful and quality products. All purchases
support both Nourish International programs and the artisans in impoverished
communities abroad. In addition, we sell travel insurance at a discounted rate to
students.
Finally, Nourish partners with organizations to host Hunger Lunches. Hunger Lunch is
a simple but delicious meal of rice, beans, and cornbread — representative of a typical
meal for many in developing countries. Our partners include Capstrat, Viget, Cisco,
Intrahealth, Appia, Digital Smiths, Bandwidth, Tranzyme and North Raleigh Rotary.
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