{"id":123988,"date":"2026-01-19T18:39:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-19T18:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/123988\/"},"modified":"2026-01-19T18:39:07","modified_gmt":"2026-01-19T18:39:07","slug":"fsu-celebrates-1m-gift-to-fight-student-food-insecurity-tallahassee-reports","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/123988\/","title":{"rendered":"FSU Celebrates $1M Gift to Fight Student Food Insecurity \u2013 Tallahassee Reports"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Brian Ballard\u00a0and his wife, Kathryn \u2014 a\u00a0Florida State University\u00a0alumna\u00a0and\u00a0member of the\u00a0Board of Trustees\u00a0\u2014 have\u00a0made a $1 million\u00a0gift\u00a0to\u00a0benefit\u00a0FSU\u2019s Food for Thought Pantry.\u00a0This is the largest investment the Division of Student Affairs has received to date to help address the growing need for student support.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis extraordinary gift from Kathryn and Brian Ballard embodies the true spirit of the Florida State University community,\u201d said President Richard McCullough. \u201cTheir generosity will make a lasting impact, helping us address the\u00a0issue of student food insecurity and ensuring that our students have the resources they need to thrive academically and personally. We are deeply grateful for their commitment to our mission and for supporting our students\u2019 success.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Data shows that food insecurity is increasing on college campuses,\u00a0according to a recent American College Health Association survey.\u00a0Nearly 45%\u00a0of college students nationwide experienced food insecurity.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Serving students since 2009, FSU\u2019s\u00a0Food for Thought Pantry<\/a>\u00a0provides immediate support to students experiencing food insecurity.\u00a0From January through Dec.\u00a08, the\u00a0Pantry\u00a0served 3,084 unique students a total of 22,175 times.\u00a0This is a\u00a057.77%\u00a0increase in unique students\u00a0using the Pantry over the\u00a0previous\u00a0year.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to distributing free food to currently enrolled FSU students experiencing food insecurity, the Pantry\u00a0operates\u00a0mobile distribution events, dining hall meal swipe donation\u00a0distributions\u00a0and Supplemental Nutrition Access Program (SNAP) workshops.\u00a0Both\u00a0undergraduate and graduate students\u00a0across\u00a0all\u00a0colleges\u00a0access the Pantry\u00a0\u2014\u00a0and\u00a0their\u00a0needs\u00a0continue\u00a0to grow.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cOur vision is to champion support for a state-of-the-art market where Florida State University students can confidently collect provisions\u00a0as they pursue their degrees,\u201d said Brian and Kathryn Ballard.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Ballards\u2019\u00a0gift\u00a0will be used to help\u00a0the university\u2019s\u00a0Pantry expansion efforts.\u00a0Long-term plans include\u00a0increasing the\u00a0Pantry\u2019s\u00a0square footage\u00a0and\u00a0storage\u00a0capacity, as well as\u00a0expanding\u00a0services\u00a0to\u00a0accommodate\u00a0more students.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are extremely grateful to the Ballards\u00a0for\u00a0their generous gift\u00a0and longstanding support to FSU and our students,\u201d said Amy Hecht, vice president for Student Affairs. \u201cTheir commitment and compassion\u00a0will\u00a0enable students to focus on their\u00a0academics and help\u00a0ensure\u00a0their path to graduation is unimpeded.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Kathryn\u00a0Ballard graduated from\u00a0FSU\u00a0in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science degree from\u00a0what was then called\u00a0the\u00a0College of Human Sciences.\u00a0In addition to her service on the FSU Board of Trustees,\u00a0she\u00a0has a\u00a0long\u00a0history of charitable and community work\u00a0including service\u00a0on\u00a0the FSU\u00a0College of Health and Human Sciences Board,\u00a0the Board of Directors of the Florida Special\u00a0Olympics\u00a0and the Board of Trustees of the Maclay School of Tallahassee.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Brian Ballard, a two-time graduate of the University of Florida,\u00a0serves\u00a0as\u00a0president\u00a0of\u00a0Ballard Partners,\u00a0a lobbying firm offering comprehensive services for clients, from legislative advocacy to relationship management.\u00a0The Ballards\u00a0were selected by three Florida governors \u2014 Ron DeSantis, Rick Scott, and Charlie Crist \u2014 to co-chair their gubernatorial inaugurations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Division of Student Affairs and\u00a0the student services they provide, visit\u00a0studentaffairs.fsu.edu<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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