As part of its centennial, Duda donated $200,000 to All For Lunch, a nonprofit dedicated to eliminating school lunch debt. This donation eliminated lunch debt for more than 3,600 students in Seminole County, Florida.
The Oviedo, Fla.-based company’s donation will also support or eliminate debt for an additional 1,425 students who receive reduced-price meals. The company estimates that one in six children in central Florida are at risk of experiencing hunger.
Duda presented the check earlier this month at Pine Crest Elementary in Sanford, Fla.
Tracy Duda Chapman, chief legal and administrative officer at Duda, says her fifth-generation family business has a long history of supporting nonprofits in the children’s well-being and food insecurity space.
“As we prepared to celebrate our 100th anniversary, we intentionally looked for a partner whose mission aligned with both of these priorities at the local level,” she told The Packer. “Our team reached out to All for Lunch after learning about their work in central Florida, and the partnership grew from there.”
She says it’s a natural fit for her family’s company that has been dedicated to growing healthy produce and supporting healthy communities. Duda Chapman told The Packer that eliminating student lunch debt of more than 5,000 students was a natural extension of those values.
“Ensuring children have access to nutritious meals without the burden of school lunch debt helps support their ability to learn and thrive, which made this partnership a meaningful way to honor our 100-year milestone,” she says.
Alessandra Ferrara-Miller, founder and executive director at All for Lunch, says this donation made an immediate difference.
“When a partner steps forward at this scale, it allows us to lift a burden that many parents quietly struggle with,” she says. “This gift didn’t just erase debt; it offers relief for families navigating tight household budgets month-to-month.”
“The extraordinary generosity of DUDA exemplifies that community partnerships make a significant impact on the lives of our students and families,” said
Serita Beamon, superintendent for Seminole County Public Schools, says the donation from Duda “provides a fresh start for many of our families and helps to ensure students and their families can focus on learning.”
All for Lunch set up a special donation page in honor of Duda’s 100th anniversary contribution for those wishing to also help eliminate school lunch debt in Seminole County: AllForLunch.org/DUDA.
Duda Chapman says this partnership highlights the role fresh produce plays in school nutrition programs.
“We believe partnerships like this underscore the importance of integrating fresh produce into school nutrition programs,” she says. “They also highlight why the produce industry’s voice is essential in advocating for this need.”
The company sets aside 10% of its after-tax profits for philanthropic giving Duda Chapman adds.
“The recipients of our philanthropic giving are selected by our many business operations, and we expect to continue giving to causes like All for Lunch that make a significant impact in the communities where we operate,” she says. “While the centennial celebration affords us the ability to make more substantial one-time donations in the areas that we want to have an impact, our philosophy remains unchanged, and our commitment to serving our communities remains as strong as ever.”
