GSF Foundation Celebrates Exceptional Leaders and Teams Making an Impact

At this month’s Golden State Foods (GSF) Global Leadership Conference, the GSF Foundation (GSFF) spotlighted the associates and teams whose passion and commitment continue to advance the Foundation’s mission of improving the quality of life for children and families in need. During a formal awards ceremony in Southern California, GSFF Chairman and Chief Executive Officer John Page joined GSFF Executive Director Vanessa Hugon Badal to present three key honors:  2026 Associate Campaign Chair, Outstanding Associate Engagement, and Outstanding Community Partnership.

Brande Bond, QCD Group Vice President, Customer Service and Development, was honored for her service as the 2026 Associate Campaign Chair. She energized the annual fundraising effort with her belief that giving thrives when people feel connected and empowered to act. Her influence helped drive remarkable results. The 2026 “All In for Good” campaign achieved 82% associate participation and raised $900,000 to benefit local communities.

GSFF recognized the KanPak team in Penn Yan, New York with the Outstanding Associate Engagement Award. For the second consecutive year, the committee led the entire organization in volunteer hours with 2,137 total hours contributed by 111 associates. Their volunteer culture runs deep: 22 team members each surpassed 20 service hours, and the site reached an impressive 93% participation in giving. Their consistency, enthusiasm, and teamwork continue to model what strong engagement looks like across the Foundation.

Presented to the Quality Custom Distribution (QCD) Chicago West committee, the Outstanding Community Partnership Award highlighted the team's accomplishments in building lasting partnerships with schools and nonprofit organizations. Their commitment amplified the reach of GSFF core programs including Back(pack) to School, Focus on Food, and Bike Build. In 2024 alone, the committee granted $157,000 to support academic success and essential services. Their long-term stewardship with a McDonald’s Owner/Operator partner also secured Best Foot Forward as the beneficiary of a major fundraising event hosted by McDonald's Hispanic Owner-Operators Association (MHOA) Chicagoland. The 2025 event generated $90,000, enabling GSFF to provide new shoes to more than 2,000 children in inner‑city Chicago.

Reflecting on the honorees, Vanessa shared, “These awards recognize extraordinary individuals and teams whose dedication shows us what’s possible when we come together around a common cause. Their example inspires all of us to lift up our communities.”