Big Bet: Reduce food, nutrition, and economic insecurity by logistically connecting the food system and employing local talent to deliver nutritious, locally grown fruits and vegetables to communities that need it most.
Project: Dream Deliveries delivers fresh fruits and vegetables directly to food insecure households five days a week, free of charge, for an entire year, removing access barriers like transportation and affordability. By hiring locally and paying a living wage, it fosters economic stability while addressing hunger. This innovative approach treats food as medicine and nutrition as a fundamental right, improving health outcomes and transforming the food system to prioritize underserved communities.
Dion is a nationally recognized leader in food aid innovation. His work has earned widespread acclaim, including honors from the White House, USDA, Chicago Bulls, and the Aspen Institute. Dion currently serves on the USDA’s Federal Advisory Committee for Urban Agriculture and has published thought leadership on food justice in Newsweek, Crain’s Chicago Business, and the Chronicle of Philanthropy.