RSF Social Finance Makes Loan to Revolution Foods

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) San Francisco, CA - February 16, 2012 - RSF Social Finance (RSF) is excited to announce its second loan to Revolution Foods, the leading social enterprise to bring healthy, wholesome foods to lunch lines across the country.  Founded in 2005 by Kristin Richmond and Kirsten Tobey – who thought to address the childhood obesity crisis by delivering healthy, all natural meals and snacks to schoolchildren – the company has since caught the attention of mayors and educators nationwide who are vying to attract the enterprise to their cities.

One-third of school-aged children are overweight or obese, and according to the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC), these kids are disproportionately poor. By concentrating their efforts on schools with high rates of economically disadvantaged students, Revolution Foods is making a difference where the need is greatest.  In addition to healthy meals, the company also offers a variety of in-school nutrition education programs, designed to encourage healthier eating decisions.   From a single location in a former McDonald’s in Alameda, CA, Revolution Foods has expanded to six regional markets and now serves over 120,000 healthy meals a day to nine states across the country. All the food is prepared fresh daily and you won’t find any artificial sweeteners, colors, trans fats or fried foods on the menu.  When Revolution Foods comes to town, it creates quality jobs that include healthcare.  Local food suppliers such as Diestel Turkey Ranch, Rudi’s Organic Bakery, and dozens of family farms benefit from a steady stream of orders, and of course, the kids gain from nutritious food that leads to better health.    “I couldn’t be prouder that Revolution Foods came back to RSF for another loan to finance their growth. It speaks to the Company’s commitment to aligning their financing with their values. We’re thrilled to help Revolution Foods expand their offerings to schoolchildren in areas that need it most,” says Ted Levinson, Director of Lending at RSF Social Finance.   Revolution Foods co-founder Kristin Richmond says “We are so pleased to work with RSF for a second time in financing our Company for continued growth and impact in the communities we serve. It means so much to a values driven organization like Revolution Foods to have a like-minded partner in RSF.”   RSF Social Finance is the lender of choice for values-driven social enterprise in the areas of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship. Borrowers not only receive financing to meet their capital needs through a close relationship with RSF, each becomes part of a larger community working to transform the way the world works with money. RSF is proud to support Revolution Foods and the positive social and environmental impacts they generate.     About RSF Social Finance Located in San Francisco, CA, RSF Social Finance (RSF) is a non-profit financial services organization dedicated to transforming the way the world works with money. Since 1984, the organization has made over $230 million in loans and $100 million in grants to non-profit and for-profit social enterprises working in the areas of Food & Agriculture, Education & the Arts, and Ecological Stewardship. RSF's lending capital comes primarily from 1200 individuals who have invested $1,000 or more in the organization's Social Investment Fund. Investors earn a competitive return on their money comparable to a certificate of deposit while their funds are deployed to leading social enterprises. To learn more, visit www.rsfsocialfinance.org.   About Revolution Foods Revolution Foods is igniting a healthy food revolution and believes that all children deserve access to healthy, wholesome food. They have revolutionized the school lunch line by providing healthy, affordable and fresh meals to over 120,000 K-12 students every day and have served over 33 million meals, to date.  Founded in 2006, Revolution Foods serves fresh and healthy breakfast, lunch, snack, and supper meals to students in over 600 education programs nationwide, where two-thirds of these children are in low-income households.   Revolution Foods is committed to making an impact by providing healthy meals and offering nutrition education programs designed to encourage healthier eating decisions. Their high food standards, food and school partners, and 750 plus community hired employees, are all helping Revolution Foods lead the charge against the national childhood obesity crisis.  To learn more, visit: www.revolutionfoods.com     Contact Ted Levinson, Director, Lending ted.levinson@rsfsocialfinance.org 415.561.6179   Jillian McCoy, Senior Associate, Communications jillian.mccoy@rsfsocialfinance.org 415.561.6156   RSF21209