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Dear Friends,

I’m Balsamine Chen, a senior at Hunter College — and a year ago, I wouldn’t have believed I’d be writing this letter.

I’ve cared about food systems since middle school. By college, I knew factory farming was one of the biggest problems we face, and that plant-based by default dining was one of the most elegant solutions — it uses behavioral science to align our food culture with what most people already value: well-being for ourselves, animals, and the planet. Hunter’s cafeteria leaned heavily on animal products, and I wanted to change that. But I was scared to act. I’d always felt more comfortable learning than doing.

Then I joined Better Food Foundation’s DefaultVeg Internship Program last summer. In ten months, I’ve done things past Balsamine would have called impossible:

• Gathered 625 student votes in support of plant-based options at Hunter — 60 in the first four days online, and the rest through organizing food tasting events on campus.
• Grew our team from one (me) to over ten students, faculty, and staff.
• Met three times with Hunter’s dining team to plan plant-based nudges on campus, and we’re now exploring Forward Food’s free chef training for our cafeteria.
• Hosted Hunter’s first Plant-Powered Food Festival in April — three months of planning, a $5,000 budget won across three rounds of approval, countless hours designing educational games, food from local restaurants, and 216 attendees. 90% said they left feeling more informed about plant-based eating.

I used to think I was just one person in a sea of people, but BFF taught me I’m one person with ripple effects across an entire campus.

In 2025 alone, BFF trained more than 120 college students who brought plant-based nudges to campus coffeeshops, events, clubs, and dining halls. My peers are often discouraged by the problems we learn about in school — this program gives them a way to use that energy now, before they even graduate.

Will you donate today to help BFF empower the next wave of student advocates? Every gift helps train students like me to transform campus food systems — and carry that work into our careers.

With gratitude,
Balsamine Chen

Your tax-deductible donation directly supports our programs, advocacy efforts, and community-building initiatives, all aimed at advancing a plant-forward food system. This approach is essential for building a more resilient, sustainable, and healthy future for all.

We appreciate your donations!