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What specific awards/honors/accomplishments does this person have?

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What specific awards/honors/accomplishments does this person have?

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Joshua Williams is the founder of Joshua's Heart a non-profit organization that is youth-led and dedicated to helping fight poverty and world hunger.
His foundation was able to...
- Engaged and empowered young people
-Distributed more than 4.8 million pounds of food
-Raised over $3 million
-Assisted more than 600,000 individuals
-Educated the community on how to fight poverty and hunger.
Joshua also creates awareness internationally. He was able to partner with brands like Disney, Wholefoods, PepsiCo, Has bro and more. He has appeared in a documentary called "The Way Kids See it". Williams has won more than a dozen good awards.

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What can a four year old do to end hunger? Start a hunger-relief organization, of course.

When most kids were just entering preschool, Joshua Williams discovered that people right in his neighborhood went without food. The concept confounded the young Miami Beach resident, so, with the support of his family, Williams founded Joshua's Heart Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, dedicated to the fight against global hunger and poverty through the community service of young people.

Now 20 and a college student, Williams is an everyday hero for the one in six Americans who face hunger.

Joshua's Heart Foundation counts more than 60,000 youth and 4,000 adults among the volunteers Williams inspires to stomp out hunger in poor and underprivileged communities, and to help those in need. Through his work, Williams has been able to engage and empower young people of all ages, and a Junior Advisory Board (JAB) helps lead the foundation. The JAB is charged with developing programs to help fulfill the mission, while being role models for young people in their own communities and beyond.

In addition to providing items of basic necessity, such as food and other personal items to those in need, Williams' foundation also engages and educates community members about ways to fight hunger and poverty. To date, Joshua's Heart Foundation has distributed more than 4.8 million pounds of food, served more than 4.9 million meals, raised over $3 million and assisted more than 600,000 individuals-all while teaching many food recipients how to prepare healthier meals.

In addition to being an advocate for the needy, Williams is a sought-after keynote speaker. He travels locally, nationally and internationally to create awareness about hunger and poverty and to motivate others. These leadership opportunities have allowed Williams to partner with well-known brands, including, but not limited to. Unilever, PepsiCo, Hormel, Dole, Disney, Hasbro, Whole Foods Market, Publix,and TJ Maxx.

In 2013, Williams appeared in a documentary short film by Unilever "The Way Kids See It," that captures ideas and inspiration for creating a brighter future from children all over the world. A year later, he participated in two service initiatives with Disney: A yearlong national campaign in conjunction with Milk Life about donating milk to food banks, and Disney's "Make Your Mark" campaign featuring activist kids who are making a difference. Williams participated in a national billboard campaign and television commercial with Foundation for a Better Life (Pass it On) about love. Billboards are seen all over the United States and the commercial is aired on the radio as well on Fox TV mostly, before a major athletic event.

For his efforts, Williams has received more than a dozen high-profile, prestigious awards.

In 2012, he became the youngest recipient of the Champions of Change Award, presented by the White House, for strengthening food security in the United States. Other honors include the Nickelodeon Halo Award Honoree, CNN Heroes Young Wonder, Harris Wofford Awards-Youth Service America, Jefferson Awards, Prudential National Volunteer Spirit Award, and was recognized with The Grio's History Makers in the Making top 100 designation. In 2017 Williams was awarded the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, presented by President Donald Trump, for his lifelong commitment to building a stronger nation through volunteer service. In September 2019, he shared a stage with Vice President Joe Biden.

In 2020 Williams was named one of Hero of a Thousand Faces and recognized by Hormel's 10 Under 20 Food Heroes. Most recently, Williams has participated in the Prudential Financial and Oshoka seeking America's Top Youth Visionaries, will be a panelist for Bread for the World's conversation with the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership with Colleges and Universities.

Williams continues to seek ways to inspire young people to make a difference in the lives of others and in their communities.

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About Founder Joshua - Joshua's Heart Foundation

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About Joshua Williams Founder of Joshua's Heart Joshua Williams - then and nowFounder, President and Chief Change Maker What can a four year old do to end hunger? Start a hunger-relief organization, of course. When most kids were just entering preschool, Joshua Williams discovered that people right in his neighborhood went without food.

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Why did you select them? What was unique about this person that made them stand out to you?

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Why did you select them? What was unique about this person that made them stand out to you?

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The reason I chose this person is that I was really shocked to find out that at such a young age he became the founder of a successful organization that has helped many in need. At such a young age he discovered his passion to help fight world hunger and poverty. His success really stood out to me because he has helped so many individuals. It really shows how anyone can make a difference if they are passionate enough. Its crazy knowing all of this started with a small 5 year old.

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What are the specifics of what this person did to make a difference? What is the story? What are they known for?

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What are the specifics of what this person did to make a difference? What is the story? What are they known for?

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Ever since donating to the homeless man at age four, he was inspired. After Joshua convinced his family and grandmother they would get together and they began cooking meals that they distributed in downtown Miami. Eventually, they would partner with churches and schools and would hand the community lots of food. All of this expanded to what is now known as the Joshua Heart Foundation, a non-profit organization meant to help those in need. His organization inspired other young individuals to volunteer and help run the organization. Together the organization helped those in need by providing necessities, water, etc.. also educating the community on how to fight hunger and poverty. Over the seven years, they were able to helped over 450,000 people.

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Joshua Williams wasn't even five years old when a chance encounter with a homeless man lit a spark in him.

"That was the first time that I learned that people didn't have what I have," Williams recalled.
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He knew he had to help, so he kept pushing his mom until they cooked up a plan.

"My family is Jamaican, and my grandmother and I would get together with my family and cook a bunch of jerk chicken, curry goat and things like that, and we would give it to communities around Miami. After that we were doing distributions, partnering with churches, schools."

Until the time the moved into a home base, they were more of a mobile pantry. Now in its fifteenth year Joshua's Heart operates in a warehouse in North Miami, and has recruited 50,000 volunteers, many as kids, like Cecilia Sosa who met Joshua in seventh grade. Sosa is a prime example of how this youth led organization operates.

"At one point I was secretary then my senior year of high school I was vice chair of the organization. The junior advisory board pushes its members to stomp out world hunger and be part of the mission and lead within your own passion, and be a leader with that," Sosa explains.

Over the fifteen years, Joshua's Heart has provided over two million pounds of food. These days the food distribution is set up like a drive thru, serving 150 families in need, twice a week. Since March things have been different due to COVID-19.

"Usually we have them walk around the pantry with a cart and pick what they would like, today we have everything pre-packaged," Sosa said while describing how volunteers bring the boxes to the cars lined up around the building.
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Joshua's Heart has also expanded to Palm Beach County, through 16-year-old volunteer Colin Wanless, who founded and chairs a Palm Beach chapter.

"In the last seven years since I've been running it, I've fed over 18,000 people," Wanless said.

The organization's goal to "stomp out world hunger" may sound lofty, but they are serious.

"Last summer I went to Washington D.C. with Josh and talked about working on a bill within Congress to obtain funding to be dedicated toward global nutrition," said Wanless.

The volunteers have a great time, and seem to get along like family.

Carson Merlo, age 18, started volunteering in high school. He's packaging food at the distribution, making friends and learning from others his age.
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"It's great to see everyone get along together and give away food to those who need it most especially in troubling times like this," Merlo said.

Williams, who is majoring in finance in college, plans to continue to keep growing the organization and inspiring the volunteers in all that they do.

"We give them opportunities to become better leaders, to become entrepreneurs, to become project managers of their own game changing, change making initiative," Williams said.

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Miami Proud: Joshua's Heart Celebrates 15 Years As Youth-Led Nonprofit Dedicated To 'Stomping Out Hunger'

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) - Joshua Williams wasn't even five years old when a chance encounter with a homeless man lit a spark in him. "That was the first time that I learned that people didn't have what I have," Williams recalled.

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What adversity did this person experience that motivated them to make a difference in the world?

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What adversity did this person experience that motivated them to make a difference in the world?

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The moment in Joshua Williams's life that sparked his desire and passion to end global hunger and poverty was when he was 4 years old and was walking to church with his mother, Down the street, they spotted a homeless man asking for money. Joshua handed him the spending money his grandmother had given him which was 20$. He would often see commercials about starving children all over the world that inspired him and made him realize his goal.

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Joshua Williams - Joshua's Heart Foundation

Joshua Williams is a typical young boy in many ways, except that he is the founder of a non-profit organization dedicated to helping end world hunger. When Joshua was not quite five years old, he and his mother were walking down the street when he saw a homeless man. He so wanted to help this man that he gave him the $20 in spending money his grandmother had given him. Later, Joshua saw a TV commercial about starving children in Africa and he asked his mom to sponsor all of them. While they couldn't take that on, he knew then and there that it wasn't right for people anywhere to go hungry when he had so much. He and his family began cooking meals and giving them to the hungry in downtown Miami once a week. Soon they were giving away boxes of food to more than 150 families at every distribution and continuing to grow. Joshua's Heart Foundation has expanded their programs to providing items of basic necessity such as food and other grocery products, as well as engaging and educating communities about ways to fight hunger and poverty. Since 2005, Joshua's Heart Foundation has given away well over 1/2 million pounds of food and fed more than 10,000 people.

Contact Information:

Phone: 305-788- 8295 Address: P.O Box 640342 | Miami, FL 33164

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Joshua Williams - Joshua's Heart Foundation - eTown

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Joshua Williams is a typical young boy in many ways, except that he is the founder of a non-profit organization dedicated to helping end world hunger. When Joshua was not quite five years old, he and his mother were walking down the street when he saw a homeless man.

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1. What is this person's background? Where did they grow up? Under what circumstances?

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1. What is this person's background? Where did they grow up? Under what circumstances?

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Joshua Williams grew up in Miami Florida with his Jamaican family. He grew up with a normal life but at age four he was inspired to end hunger and help those in need. He would often see commercials that would show children starving around the world. Additionally, he also experienced seeing people in his neighborhood go without food. Overall He grew up wanting to end world hunger.

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At Nunbelievable we love sharing stories about people on the front lines in the fight against hunger. One young man who we find truly inspiring is Joshua Williams, who started working to help those in need before his fifth birthday and has created a foundation that has provided food to nearly half a million people in need. Joshua grew up in Miami, Florida, and began helping those less fortunate when he was just 4-and-a-half years old. He soon created Joshua's Heart Foundation , which has grown over the years to become a truly remarkable organization. With an emphasis on empowering young people to take a leadership role, the foundation has raised over a million dollars and distributed well over 2 million pounds of food. In 2012, Joshua became the youngest recipient of the White House's Champions of Change Award , an Obama administration honor that recognized individuals who were doing extraordinary things to make a difference in their communities. Joshua is now a sophomore at New York University (NYU) and he recently stopped by the Nunbelievable offices to chat with our co-founder Kuda Biza about his incredible journey.

Note: This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.

PHOTO CAPTION: Nunbelievable Co-Founder & CMO, Kuda Biza (left) interviewing Founder of Joshua Heart Foundation, Joshua Williams (right) at the Nunbelievable office in New York City.

You're a sophomore at NYU now. How do you like school?

I'm studying finance at [NYU's] Stern School of Business and I really enjoy it. New York is great. It's a bit colder than Miami, but I love it overall.

How are you handling this transition in your life?

When you're in college, you're away from your family and in a totally different environment, but I think I've been able to handle it well just because of the experience the foundation has given me. I was always traveling for business or meetings, so being away from home wasn't necessarily weird or different. I just have to be a little bit more independent in a different way.

How has your involvement with the foundation changed since you've been in college?

It's different. In my last two years of high school I was talking to my mom and my team about what direction we should take the organization. We realized we had a great group of youth volunteers who were ready to take over most of the responsibilities. I do still handle a lot of the administrative work, but I'm not there for the day-to-day stuff.
Let's go back to the beginning. How does someone so young even get the idea to start something like this?
Joshua's Heart started when I was 4-and-a-half. My grandmother gave me a $20 bill. I was going to church one Sunday and we stopped at a red light and there was a man outside the window with a sign that said "Need Food, Lost My Job." My mom explained that he was homeless and living on the street. And that impacted me more than anything else. I wanted to do something about that. I wanted to help him. I realized that the $20 I had, he needed it more than I did. And I ended up giving it to him. Even though I was 4-and-a-half and didn't really understand the extent of what he was going through, or if the $20 meant anything, it was really about me giving back. And over time I realized I wanted to do more.
What happened next?
I went to my mom and asked her to help me do something in the community. She shot me down immediately, so I had to figure out another way! I went to my aunts. I didn't really have a plan. But they didn't really do anything so I fired them.
So you fired someone at age 4-and-a-half?
Yeah, I had to! To keep my dream and my mission moving I had to make some hard decisions. When I was a little older I hired them back. But then at the time I went back to my mom and for three months I begged her [to help me]. I was really stubborn. And I still am! But I was so persistent that she finally said, "OK, I'll help you out." But even after that she didn't take me seriously. I had no plan. I just had a desire, a passion to do something.

What we started doing was cooking food for people in our neighborhood - Jamaican food. My family is Jamaican and we'd always go to my grandmother's house for dinner and it would feel like Thanksgiving or Christmas. Everyone would bring food and cook. My cousins, all of us. It was just a natural thing for us to do. All of my family has always been very giving and caring.

We just did that for two years. This was just my family giving out of our pockets. It started off that we were giving food to five people. In two months it was 15. And over time in about eight to 12 months we were giving food about 150 to 200 people every weekend.
When did you create the foundation?
We officially incorporated when I was 7 years old. We got shut down by the cops, actually. There are ordinances and you need permits. We got too big to do this without a permit. We stopped for a couple of weeks and then just by chance my aunt heard about [non-profit charitable organization] 501(c)(3)'s on the radio. So we started looking into it, because we realized this was the path we wanted to take. And that's how Joshua's Heart was formed. This was a passion of mine and my family helped guide me in the right direction. As I got older I was able to take over more responsibilities.
How did you do that?
When I was about 12 or 13 I had to start looking at how I could follow my passion and how to we grow, how do we get more kids involved, how do we accomplish our short-term goals and our long-term goals.
What kind of impact that Joshua's Heart is making today?
The best way to explain it is that after we stopped giving out food directly to the homeless we created an event called "the distribution," which is where we gave out food in a more organized manner. We'd get a truckload of food and we'd go to churches, schools, community centers and bring food because these were places where it's easier for families to meet us. It's kind of like a mobile food pantry. And we were able to help anywhere from 350 to 1,000 families in less than three hours, and give them two weeks worth of food.

Over time we got more volunteers and we were getting media attention so we started to expand and adapt. So Joshua's Heart today is a mixture of the distribution program, our food pantry, weekly distributions, foreign aid, youth advocacy groups, speaking and awareness programs. We have a Junior Advisory Board, which is a group of kids who are really passionate about giving back. We work with over 25,000 youth volunteers but these are 80 kids who are dedicated to making a change. We teach them business skills, philanthropy, etc. And we encourage them to start their own projects and we help and guide them through that mission. It's kind of like group mentorship.
How many people has Joshua's Heart helped?
So far we've fed about 450,000 individuals around the world over the last seven years. That's about 2.2 million pounds of food, and we've raised $1.2 million.
That's incredible. Obviously you're helping so many others, but what can you tell us about what this all means to you personally?
It's a passion for me. I am most comfortable when I'm giving back. People think that giving back is selfless, but I think, while it's not selfish, when you help people you feel good about yourself. It's taught me so much about life and the state of our world. The giving and receiving process is two ways. The more I give, the more I receive, the more I learn, the more I grow as a person.
Joshua's Heart Foundation is a youth-led organization. Why is that important to you? And now that you're an adult, what does that mean?
I wouldn't say I'm an adult yet, but I think before I incorporated we looked for other youth organizations for me to join and you had to be at least 13 years old, and usually you had to be 16 to 18. And because my age was a limiting factor when I started the organization we wanted to make it that anybody of any age could join us. We have 18-month-old babies hold cans, and [also] people who are 80 or 90 years old help out. It's a community. It's not about who's giving the most. It's about being aware that you can make a change. It's very important to me that people of my generation know that they have the power to give back. But we're not completely youth-run. Our youth look to the adults for advice. They have experience that can help us. Kids and adults look at the world differently and I think a balance between both leads to great changes.
How did you balance the responsibilities of Joshua's Heart with everything else in your life, like school and friends?
It's different now that I'm in college. My freshman and sophomore years in high school I was traveling almost every weekend for meetings, events, awards. After sophomore year I got a little burned out, and I learned that you have to carefully balance your work life and your personal life. When I came to NYU I started rock climbing, and that helped me balance out and de-stress. You have to look at yourself and what you value. You have to understand that when you're trying to do something big there are a lot of sacrifices you have to make. And I had to make a lot of sacrifices in terms of friendships, going out partying. Looking back now, I would make the same sacrifices again because they really allowed me to find my purpose.
What's been the coolest or most exciting thing that's happened to you because of this? Don't be humble!
A couple of things pop in my head. First would be all the amazing people I've met in business and philanthropy. I see people who have achieved their dreams. That's been a great experience and I never would have met them if not for Joshua's Heart. One cool thing that happened was when I got the "Shine a Light" award at the BET Awards and I got to meet a lot of celebrities and see some cool performances, like Kendrick Lamar. Being on was also amazing. They do a great job every year recognizing people who are making changes. Joshua's Heart has really helped show me so much.
Where do you see Joshua's Heart going in the next few years?
It's growing, even without me being there directly. We're learning how to give back more efficiently, how to raise money better, how to teach kids how to make change. We're transforming from an idea into a revolution, to teach kids how to inspire change.
How can we help?
First thing is to start helping around your neighborhood. As a personal mission statement I would like everybody to be kind to people around them. You never know what people are going through in their life and I think having a general mindset of being nice and kind to people is really underrated.

For Joshua's Heart, you can check out our website, joshuasheart.org , and follow us on social media and spread awareness about hunger and poverty. And just know that you can make a difference, no matter how small it is.
We are looking for the people we interview to share with us what we're calling a "#NunbelievableMoment" in their lives. That would be a time when someone made an unexpected or selfless act of kindness for you that really inspired you. Can you share one with us?
Joshua's Heart has given me so many inspiring moments, like seeing people going out of their way to help others and make a difference. Seeing kids who I have inspired starting their own projects [and] how their acts have created a cycle, a movement, has really inspired me.

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Nunbelievable Stories: How Joshua Williams Started a Lifelong Mission to Feed the Hungry When He Was Just 5 Years Old

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At Nunbelievable we love sharing stories about people on the front lines in the fight against hunger.