Meals Matter, the student-led nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity, is the recipient of the 2026 William R. Simms Award for Outstanding Youth in Philanthropy, Group, sponsored by Carter through the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) Foundation for Philanthropy.
Rohan Dileep and Beatrice Norman, Middleton High School seniors and co-presidents of the founding chapter, Middleton Meals Matter, and Meals Matter executive board members, will accept the award in San Diego on April 28. The ceremony will take place during AFP ICON 2026, the world's largest gathering of fundraising professionals.
The award honors young people from throughout the world with a proven record of exceptional generosity, who demonstrate outstanding civic and charitable responsibility, and whose philanthropy encourages others to engage at the community, national, and international levels.
“This recognition means so much to us, not only because it celebrates our organization’s impact, but because it shines a light on the urgent issue of food insecurity that so many families face every day,” said Dileep and Norman. “While we are incredibly proud of our accomplishments, we also recognize the reality that food insecurity is a growing global issue. Our successes are worth celebrating, but they also remind us that the need is greater than ever, and our mission is far from finished.”
Meals Matter’s story began in 2024 with Middleton High School students Noah Duckett and Wyatt Ehrhardt. After reaching out to WayForward Resources, they founded Middleton Meals Matter, a student-led organization with a vision "to create a community where no one goes hungry, and everyone has access to nutritious, wholesome meals."
Duckett and Ehrhardt remain involved from college while new student leaders take charge locally. They created a sustainable structure that allows new students to assume local leadership while continuing to expand the program’s reach.
Middleton Meals Matter – now one chapter within the larger Meals Matter umbrella – includes 19 chapters, spanning high schools across the United States and South Korea, working toward a shared vision. The group is applying for official 501(c)(3) status to establish long‑term sustainability and increase the potential for future growth.
Middleton Meals Matter has collected 69,478 pounds of food valued at more than $132,000, along with $15,610 in funds for WayForward Resources. The group coordinates monthly large-scale grocery‑store food drives that require volunteer coordination, logistics planning, community outreach, and partnerships with local businesses, neighborhood collections, school events, and creative hunger-awareness campaigns.
Their work also supports Second Harvest Foodbank of Southern Wisconsin, Sun Prairie Emergency Food Pantry, and the Caring Closet at Middleton High School. Additionally, Middleton Meal Matter engages younger students in hunger‑awareness education and volunteering at their drives, and speaks at public events to encourage broad‑based participation.
“We’re immensely proud of Middleton Meals Matter co-founders Wyatt Ehrhardt and Noah Duckett and current co-presidents Rohan Dileep and Bea Norman for carrying on their work and expanding their reach even further,” said Middleton-Cross Plains Area School District Superintendent Dr. Dana Monogue. “Our students’ strong leadership and advocacy have inspired students throughout our District, our state and around the world. Equally important is the tremendous impact they’re making in our communities in fighting food insecurity."
Read more about the award and follow Meals Matter and Middleton Meals Matter on Instagram to learn more about their work.