TPF Ambassador: Matt Pauszek
The Patachou Foundation Ambassadors are dedicated leaders in Indianapolis who are making a direct impact on children suffering from hunger and food insecurity by raising money to support one of the schools we serve.Matt graduated from Butler University in 2017 with finance and risk management degrees and currently works in Chicago. "I'm in a desperate search to find a spot with fried chicken anywhere as good as that at Crispy Bird. I don't think I'm going to find it," he says.
Why did you decide to become an Ambassador for The Patachou Foundation?Now living in Chicago, I really wanted to stay connected with the Foundation and continue spreading its message and mission outside of the Indianapolis area.How did you first hear about The Patachou Foundation?Growing up in Indianapolis, the Patachou restaurants were a staple of my childhood, but it was really our great family friend and fellow volunteer Diane Smith who first encouraged and inspired me to start getting involved and volunteering with the Foundation.What about The Patachou Foundation's mission most connects with you? I have always been intrigued by the idea of kinship and how it relates to myself and the community around me. Through my service with the Foundation, I have really been drawn to the power of what food can do to connect and inspire all different groups of people. I think it's a really special moment to see a child try a new food for the first time and be able to have a sincere dialogue about it.Do you have any stories to share about your time as an Ambassador so far?So far as an Ambassador, my favorite moments have been when I rock my TPF t-shirt around Chicago and have buddies ask me about it. It gives me a great reason to brag about the awesome work The Patachou Foundation does.What is your favorite family tradition involving food?Our family has deep Polish roots so we do a traditional Polish sausage every holiday season which is always a hit.What was your favorite snack as a child?Grapes and Peanut Butter - not together though!Anything else you'd like to share?I’m definitely super grateful to be involved with the Foundation. It was a big part of my college years and continues to serve as an excellent way to stay connected with the Indianapolis community which means so much to me.