SYRACUSE, N.Y. — The William G. Pomeroy Foundation is now accepting applications for its exciting, new Hungry for History™ grant program, which funds the creation of roadside markers that celebrate the history of America’s most iconic and beloved food dishes.
Launched in 2021 to help communities showcase their unique foods, the Hungry for History grant program commemorates the role regional food specialties have played in defining American culture and forging community identity. During the first grant round, the Pomeroy Foundation awarded funding for a variety of prepared dishes including: salt potatoes in Syracuse, N.Y.; Michigan hot dogs in Plattsburgh, N.Y.; beef on weck in West Seneca, N.Y.; sonker in Mount Airy, N.C.; buckwheat cakes in Kingwood, W. Va.; barbecued chicken in Lansing, N.Y.; chocolate jumbles in Esperance, N.Y.; and chicken brissil in Greenville, Ala.
Deryn Pomeroy, Trustee and Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Pomeroy Foundation, shared, “From beef on weck to buckwheat cakes, we are thrilled with the diversity of regional food specialties that communities sought to celebrate during the first round of the Hungry for History program.” Pomeroy added, “Communities are incredibly proud of the cherished local dishes their regions are known for. We’re pleased to provide this opportunity to recognize and celebrate those foods with Hungry for History roadside markers.”
To qualify for the Hungry for History grant program, the regional food specialty must be a prepared, ready-to-eat dish that originated before 1960 and is comprised of at least two ingredients. The dish must still be available to eat today and have historical significance to the surrounding community. All applications must also include primary source documentation that proves the food’s authenticity and significance to the region.
Hungry for History online Letters of Intent (LOI) are due by Monday, March 7, with the grant application deadline set for Monday, April 11. The Foundation will award marker grants in July 2022. Prospective applicants must apply through a local 501(c)(3) organization such as a historical society, nonprofit academic institution, or a local, state, or federal government entity.
“We look forward to helping communities across the country celebrate their unique – and delicious – regional food specialties that are part of the fabric of our collective identities and heritage,” Pomeroy said.
For more information about online application requirements or to submit a Letter of Intent, please visit: https://www.wgpfoundation.org/history/hungry-for-history/
About the Pomeroy Foundation
The William G. Pomeroy Foundation® is committed to supporting the celebration and preservation of community history; and to raising awareness, supporting research and improving the quality of care for patients and their families who are facing a blood cancer diagnosis. Established by Trustee Bill Pomeroy in 2005 to bring together his two greatest passions, the Pomeroy Foundation is a private, grant-making organization located in Syracuse, N.Y. As the nation’s leading funder of historic roadside markers, the Pomeroy Foundation has awarded nearly 1,700 grants for markers and bronze plaques in 41 states. To learn more about the Pomeroy Foundation, visit wgpfoundation.org.
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Media Inquires
Steve BodnarWilliam G. Pomeroy Foundation
steve @wgpfoundation.org
315-913-4068