We Raise Foundation Awards New Emerging Leader Grant

Itasca, IL—We Raise Foundation is excited to announce that we recently awarded a $15,000 Emerging Leader Grant to Ms. Johanna Vallejo from Restoring God’s Family Network, Leander, Texas. Emerging Leader Grants are an investment in the development of rising nonprofit professionals at Christian organizations who are leading new programs serving under-resourced communities in the United States.

Vallejo receives $15,000 over two years, with $10,000 supporting Restoring God’s Family Network’s Jubilee Food Pantry and $5,000 supporting her leadership development. This leadership development includes attending a Leadership Fundamentals Course through The Center for Creative Leadership, attending the Global Leadership Summit through satellite locations, and receiving individualized leadership coaching.

“We Raise is proud to announce our latest grant recipient, Johanna Vallejo from Restoring God’s Family Network,” said Paul Miles, President/CEO of We Raise. “She joins a distinguished list of Emerging Leaders making a difference in their community, and we are privileged to invest in her and those she serves. What is more fundamental than ensuring all of God’s people have access to food? Johanna and her colleagues are the modern-day embodiment of Matthew 25, and we are humbled to walk alongside them as she serves as the hands and feet of Jesus in her community.”

Leader Profile:
Johanna Vallejo is a dedicated nurse, teacher, and advocate for holistic health who is passionate about helping others reclaim their well-being through natural living and whole foods. She became a Licensed Practical Nurse at Eastwick College in Hackensack, New Jersey, in 2009 and has since pursued a career in the medical field, including years in post-surgical rehabilitation and home health care, where she provides compassionate, hands-on care to her patients.

Alongside her clinical experience, Johanna has devoted more than two decades to researching and practicing holistic approaches to health. She is a graduate of Warrior Training School, a four-year spiritual discipleship program, where she now teaches and equips others to live with purpose. In 2024, she launched Healing Balm Ministries, where she educates individuals and families on the powerful connection between nutrition and healing. Johanna’s unique ability to bridge traditional medicine and holistic practices allows her to offer thoughtful, balanced guidance to those seeking healthier lives.

Project Summary:
The Restoring God’s Family Network’s Jubilee Food Pantry, expanded Power of Food health education, and new community gardens are working together to address food insecurity and improve health outcomes across Williamson County, Texas. The mobile pantry currently serves 75–100 families each month through local Head Start centers, providing fresh, nutritious food to households in need.

The grant funding will help train leadership for the Power of Food program, equipping families with practical tools to make healthier food choices and incorporate holistic wellness practices alongside traditional care. The grant will also support the startup of 10 community gardens at Head Start sites, creating sustainable, local sources of fresh food while fostering community connection.

The need is significant: more than 77,000 people in Williamson County experience food insecurity, many of whom do not qualify for assistance. This initiative addresses both immediate hunger and long-term health by increasing access, education, and self-sufficiency.

The Emerging Leader Grant Program has a rolling deadline and awards grants twice a year. The next deadline is September 30, 2026, and grants will be awarded in November. For more information about grant requests, please visit weraise.org/emergingleadergrants.

About We Raise Foundation
Motivated by the belief that freedom is grace in action (Galatians 5:1a), We Raise Foundation funds innovative ideas and leaders that help individuals and communities thrive. We have a preference for funding solutions within the areas of education, workforce development, and reentry, and employ a unique approach to our investing by coupling program funding with a variety of robust value-added services that empower our grantees to grow their solutions. As a result of these value-added services, every $1 that donors invest through We Raise multiplies into more than double the benefit to the organizations we support. To learn more, please visit weraise.org. You can also find We Raise on Facebook, X/Twitter, and Instagram.