Today, we’re proud to share our new name and identity with you.

The Patachou Foundation is now A Longer Table.

This change reflects who we’ve become—and the future we’re building together.

For over a decade, we’ve worked to transform how young people experience food: in their schools, in their communities, and in their own hands. From fresh, reliable school meals to youth-led farming to college credit and paid internships, our work has grown far beyond our original mission. The name A Longer Table speaks to that evolution.

Why A Longer Table?

In 2013, Martha Hoover founded The Patachou Foundation with a clear goal: make sure kids in Indianapolis had access to good food. That mission hasn’t changed—but the work has grown.

Today, we:

• Partner with schools to serve scratch-cooked meals that support health and increase participation
• Train and pay high school students through our Food Fellowship to lead in the food system
• Help build strong, sustainable school food systems from the inside out

The name A Longer Table reflects our belief that food should be a tool for connection, care, and long-term impact—and that the systems serving students should reflect who they are.

What’s Staying the Same

• Our mission: Ensure every student has access to good food and meaningful opportunity
• Our programs:
  • Next Course Cafeterias (formerly PataSchool)
  • The Food Fellowship
• Our team: The same staff and board, committed to doing this work in partnership with schools and communities
• Our values:
  • Innovation that reimagines what school food can be
  • Quality that never cuts corners
  • Solutions that address root causes
  • Community leadership that centers students, families, and school food staff

Take the Next Step: Sign the Pledge

If you believe schools deserve the tools and trust to serve good food
If you believe young people should help lead the future of food
If you believe food can be a driver of health, learning, and connection

Add your name to our pledge.

We’re launching our new name today across our website, cafeterias, materials, and community.

And the celebration doesn’t end here.

Join us again on October 16 at the Speakers Forum: The Future of Food and Philanthropy—an evening of bold ideas, real conversation, and what’s next for school food, hosted at Indiana Landmarks.

To everyone who’s helped us get here, thank you.

To those just finding us, welcome.

There’s a seat for you at A Longer Table.