Est. 2004 · Los Angeles
Two decades of showing up for students.
Since 2004, leap has served students in under-resourced communities — first through award-winning after-school programs, and today by sponsoring millions of free, healthy meals across California and Arizona.
What leap is today
leap (Learning Enrichment After-school Program) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Our focus is leap Healthy Meals — an approved CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program) and SFSP (Summer Food Service Program) meal sponsor delivering free breakfasts, lunches, snacks, and suppers to after-school and educational programs in Southern California, Northern California, and Arizona.
Our mission: to help students from underserved communities develop their critical thinking skills during out-of-school time.
leap Healthy Meals
Free, nutritious meals for programs in Southern California, Northern California, and Arizona — fully funded, fully supported, zero cost.
leaphealthymeals.com →Built on four pillars
leap stands on four pillars that guide everything we do for students. Today our Health pillar lives on through leap Healthy Meals — putting nutritious meals in front of students during out-of-school time so they can show up healthy, focused, and ready to learn.
Academic Achievement
Students develop scholarly habits — and grow academically and socially.
Social & Emotional Development
Students take ownership of their learning through enrichment classes, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking.
Health
Students eat healthy foods and stay physically active — now powered by leap Healthy Meals.
Family & Community Engagement
Students connect with role models, family, and community through field trips and performances — and see themselves as global citizens.
From classrooms to kitchens
First after-school program launches at Alexander Science Center School in South Los Angeles.
leap becomes a CACFP meal sponsor, feeding students at dozens of sites beyond our own.
A dedicated meal sponsor across two states — with our Nevada expansion underway.
Meals sponsored for students and youth, ages 1–18.
Voices from the leap community
"…leap makes it a lot easier for us working parents."— Milagros Chiara, parent
"Each year our waiting list grows as parents continue to seek admittance… Even the leap staff is well organized and demonstrates a sincere concern for the welfare of our students."— Annitra Edmonds, Principal, Gifted Academy of Mathematics and Entrepreneurial Studies
"Today was We Care's first day of receiving meals… It was a SUCCESS — the students were thrilled. 'Hey, guess what we are having today?' They automatically responded, 'We have food!!!'"— We Care staff and family, a partner site
Our impact, in pictures
Snapshots from the leap after-school years — field trips, fitness, enrichment, and community service that shaped who we are today.
Hungry students can't wait. Neither do we.
We started as an after-school program and grew into one of California's trusted meal sponsors. If your program serves students in an under-resourced community, we'd love to feed them.
Explore Healthy Meals ↗ Read Our Story →