TPF Ambassador: Yaw Aning

The Patachou Foundation Ambassadors are dedicated leaders in Indianapolis who are making a direct impact on Indianapolis children suffering from hunger and food insecurity by raising money to support one of the schools we serve.Yaw Aning is the co-founder and CEO of web and mobile app development agency, Sticksnleaves. He’s a proud graduate of Rose-Hulman and lives in Westfield with his wife Malea and two french bulldogs. Yaw appreciates that The Patachou Foundation, “helps the kids be more adventurous and slowly begin to realize that food that is good for you can actually taste good, too. I wish I had those experiences when I was younger!”Why did you decide to become a TPF Ambassador?I have always found it energizing working with kids and for about a year I searched for community organizations and foundations whose missions I believed in. I had been a frequent patron of Cafe Patachou and over the years and had slowly fallen in love with what Martha and the Patachou brand stood for: a commitment to local, ethically grown, fresh food that was as good for you as it tastes. When I learned that Patachou had launched a foundation dedicated to serving food insecure kids with great food while also teaching them about eating healthy I knew I had to be a part of the ambassador program.How did you first hear about TPF?I learned about TPF through the wonderful, energetic, and magnetic TPF Board member Jennifer Magley.What speaks to you about TPF's mission?What I love about the TPF mission isn't just that the foundation serves a real and important need in providing meals to kids, but that they teach the kids about the meals that they are eating. It's always fun to ask the kids whether they've ever tried an ingredient in a meal. They'll always say they don't like it, yet in reality, they've never tried it. They're very reluctant at first but as soon as they taste it, they'll ask for second and third helpings. The education that's provided with the meals helps the kids be more adventurous, try things they never thought they would like, and slowly begin to realize that food that is good for you can actually taste good, too. I wish I had those experiences when I was younger!What is your favorite family tradition involving food?Eating it! Haha, just kidding. My wife and I cook dinner at home at least four times a week. I look forward to spending time with her after a long day, sharing stories from the day and watching our meals come together. Cooking is a such a creative process, it's also a time to unwind and relax from the day.What was your favorite snack as a child?Every day after school I would grab a pack of saltines and sliced cheese, and I'd fold the sliced cheese into four pieces and make cheese and cracker sandwiches.Anything else you'd like to share?As a volunteer for the Foundation, before I became an Ambassador, it was so much fun to actually work directly with the kids we impact. They are always so happy to share stories about their day and love talking about the food we serve. It's been a very rewarding experience.