Gina Gabel & Thrive Youth Council share Thrive's story and purpose.
On September 24th, we were joined by Gina Gabel, co-founder and Board President of Thrive, a non-profit organization she started in 2012 alongside Regina Landor and Priscilla Heffelfinger while living in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Thrive’s mission is to “Deliver Healthy Food to Hungry Schoolchildren,” with a vision of creating “A World Where All Children Thrive.”
What began as a simple act of providing bananas to a local school once a week has grown into a global effort that now serves over 3,000 school meals daily to children in Bangladesh and the Philippines - totaling more than 4.7 million meals since its founding. Thrive’s work not only nourishes children but also ensures they can attend school, stay engaged, and succeed. The organization measures its impact through three key goals: filling childhood nutrition gaps, improving school attendance, and increasing the number of children receiving education.
Thrive has also created sustainable opportunities for local families, employing 11 Filipino mothers who now earn income through the program. Their ambitious goal is to reach 10,000 daily meals by 2028.
Gina shared that Thrive’s mission strongly aligns with Rotary’s - both dedicated to fostering global understanding and improving lives. In addition to leading Thrive, she helps guide the Thrive Youth Council, which includes students from Grosse Pointe South High School: Alice Gabel (President), Kassia Norris (VP), Charlie Marks (Pitch Lead), and Morgan Costello (Pitch Lead).
Thrive’s motto, “Feed, Educate, Grow,” beautifully captures the heart of its mission. To learn more or get involved, visit www.thrive-global.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram (@thrive.feed.educate.grow).
Thank you, Gina, for sharing your inspiring story and the incredible impact Thrive is making around the world!