In-Depth Summary of "Christopher Helfrich - How EAT.LEARN.PLAY. is Changing Lives"

Podcast: How I Built My Small Business
Host: Anne McGinty
Guest: Christopher Helfrich
Release Date: March 18, 2025

Introduction

In this compelling episode of "How I Built My Small Business," host Anne McGinty welcomes Christopher Helfrich, the President and CEO of Eat, Learn, Play, a foundation dedicated to combating childhood hunger, fostering early literacy, and promoting active lifestyles among children in Oakland. This episode is part of podcast THON, a global initiative aimed at raising awareness for charitable causes. Since its inception in 2019, Eat, Learn, Play has impressively raised and invested over $32 million, directly impacting underserved children and families in the Oakland community.

Christopher Helfrich's Background

Christopher Helfrich brings a wealth of experience to his role at Eat, Learn, Play. Prior to co-founding the foundation with Stephan and Aisha Curry, he led the Starlight Children’s Foundation and spearheaded the Nothing but Nets campaign for the UN Foundation, focusing on malaria eradication globally. In 2024, his impactful work earned him a spot on the COVID of Inc Magazine for his efforts in promoting equity, access, and opportunity.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [01:45]:
"I realized early on, like, my first role was at my alma mater, Trinity University... I did just sort of realize pretty quickly that feeling good about what I did, you know, day to day, was more important to me than the dollar amount on my paycheck."

Founding Eat, Learn, Play

The genesis of Eat, Learn, Play can be traced back to Christopher’s collaborative efforts with Stephan and Aisha Curry. The foundation officially launched in July 2019, just before the global COVID-19 pandemic hit. The mission was intricately timed with the Golden State Warriors' final year in Oakland, aligning the foundation’s focus on the local community as the team relocated.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [09:34]:
"We're trying to make sure that Oakland and this generation of Oakland kids is looked after, right, as the Warriors pack up and move across the bridge, San Francisco."

Mission and Impact

Eat, Learn, Play operates on three foundational pillars:

1. Eat: Addressing childhood hunger by ensuring that children receive nutritious meals, especially during times when schools are closed.
2. Learn: Focusing on early literacy to improve reading levels by the end of third grade, a critical predictor of future academic and professional success.
3. Play: Promoting youth sports and active lifestyles to build confidence, discipline, and overall well-being.

During the pandemic, the foundation played a crucial role in distributing 26 million meals to Oakland residents through school partnerships and the local food bank. Additionally, they collaborated with World Central Kitchen to employ local restaurants in preparing meals for families in need, thereby supporting both the community and local businesses.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [14:00]:
"In Oakland, 39% of students are living in food-insecure households. Schools are the places where over half of Oakland students get two or three meals a day. Our Learn pillar focuses on early literacy because a child’s ability to read well by the end of third grade is a huge predictor of their future success."

Fundraising and Partnerships

Christopher emphasizes a unique approach to fundraising and partnership building, steering away from traditional methods. Instead, Eat, Learn, Play operates more like a business, focusing on passion, imagination, and relentless hustle.

Notable Quotes:
Christopher Helfrich [15:42]:
"I'm not the most traditional, like, by the book fundraiser. We try to run Eat, Learn, Play like a business."

Christopher further highlights the importance of passion and creativity in galvanizing support:

"I have a really good or unusual imagination... for me, having that imagination has been a key ingredient." [17:09]

Additionally, the foundation benefits significantly from the Currys’ commitment to funding all administrative and fundraising overhead costs, allowing 100% of incoming funds to directly support programs and partnerships.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [25:32]:
"The Currys have committed to fully fund forever all of the administrative and fundraising overhead costs for the foundation so that every dollar that comes in can go directly back out into the programs and the partnerships that we're supporting."

Challenges and Growth

Transitioning from a startup to a more established organization presented several challenges for Christopher. As the team grew from a handful to over 20 members, maintaining effective communication and organizational culture became increasingly complex. Christopher acknowledges the steep learning curve involved in scaling the foundation while ensuring that the mission remained clear and impactful.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [27:02]:
"Going from a startup into adolescence, and now adolescence into whatever this next phase is, it's been rife with challenges... how can I get out of the way when necessary and just empower them to do their thing?"

He credits executive coaching and mentorship for helping navigate these growing pains, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and addressing personal and organizational weaknesses.

Memorable Achievements

One of the most memorable and impactful initiatives undertaken by Eat, Learn, Play was their response to the COVID-19 pandemic. By pivoting quickly, the foundation not only ensured that children remained fed during school closures but also supported local restaurants, thereby sustaining the community’s economic health.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [22:15]:
"We ended up employing 130 Oakland restaurants and doing like, I don't know if it was a million and a half or 2 million restaurant meals back out into the community during that time."

Another significant milestone was the strategic pivot towards transforming the public school experience in Oakland, focusing on literacy tutoring and remodeling schoolyards to create more engaging and supportive environments for children.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [29:35]:
"We're investing five, six million dollars a year now... transforming campuses in the flatlands of Oakland at elementary schools, creating these dream schoolyards for kids to be able to play and learn and grow."

Advice and Life Wisdom

When asked about advice for aspiring nonprofit founders, Christopher underscores the importance of listening to the community's needs and aligning passion with those needs. He stresses that empathy and understanding are crucial for creating meaningful and effective programs.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [35:32]:
"Listen to the community's needs and then add your passion. Good things happen when you put those two things together."

Reflecting on his personal journey, Christopher offers valuable life wisdom centered around hard work, embracing one's unique qualities, and the significance of supportive relationships.

Notable Quote:
Christopher Helfrich [36:16]:
"It's all going to work out if you work hard... recognize your weaknesses and account for them... who you choose to be around is such a key part."

Key Takeaways

1. Building Partnerships: Focus on relationships rather than transactions. Forge genuine, long-term partnerships with those who share your values and mission.
   "Building partnerships is about relationships, not transactions."

2. Creativity in Collaboration: Approach collaborations with a mindset of mutual benefit and innovative thinking.
   "Whether it's fundraising, marketing or community engagement, creativity opens doors."

3. Addressing Critical Needs: Prioritize addressing foundational issues such as hunger, education, and physical activity to create lasting impact.
   "Millions of kids in the US face hunger daily... prioritize movement, play, and sports to build confidence, discipline and well-being."

4. Leadership and Growth: As organizations scale, adapting leadership strategies and fostering effective communication become essential.
   "The best leaders acknowledge gaps in their knowledge and seek executive coaching, mentors, or advisors to navigate challenges."

5. Authenticity and Support: Embrace authenticity and cultivate supportive relationships to inspire and lead effectively.
   "Authenticity is your greatest asset... surround yourself with people who challenge you to grow, support your vision."

Conclusion

This episode offers a profound insight into the journey of Christopher Helfrich and Eat, Learn, Play, illustrating the impactful blend of passion, creativity, and strategic leadership in building a successful nonprofit. Listeners gain valuable lessons on the importance of listening to community needs, fostering genuine partnerships, and the relentless pursuit of mission-driven goals. Christopher’s candid reflections and actionable advice make this episode a must-listen for anyone aspiring to make a meaningful difference through entrepreneurship and philanthropy.

Stay Tuned:
Don’t miss Anne McGinty’s upcoming episode with Duncan Wardle, Disney’s former head of creativity and innovation, dropping on April 1. Follow "How I Built My Small Business" on your preferred podcast platform to stay updated with inspiring stories and actionable insights every week.

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• Website: www.annemcginty.com
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