About
In urban areas across the US, fresh, healthy food is miles away.
Food choices fall to gas stations, fast food, and food bank locations. Some areas have limited church support or other community organizations.
One can not have Hope without Healthy Food as the Bridge to Learn, Grow, Achieve, and Stay Healthy.
Meet The Counihans
Ken & Kim have been married for over 40 years with three children: a doctor, engineeer and bookkeeper. Ken worked in multiple finance, sales and management roles with Hewlett-Packard, VMware and Dell over a 30 year career. Kim continues her 20+ year career as a middle school teacher at Urban Community School in Cleveland.
Board of Directors
Ken and Kim currently have two companies. Santé Strategies LLC, the for-profit company focused on the Podcast for Food for Health and Longevity called Eat Better Food Today. The second company, The Santé Foundation, is a nonprofit focused on raising funds to bring Food, Education and Hope to food desert urban areas. Their initial focus is the poorest suburb in America, East Cleveland, OH.
Ken & Kim Counihan
James Beard Award winning Chef Brandon Chrostowski is the Chef and owner of Edwin’s Restaurant in Cleveland, OH. “At Edwins, we believe in second chances.” Its founder Brandon Chrostowski, himself the recipient of a “second chance,” used his to help to change the face of prison re-entry in Cleveland.
Brandon Chrostowski
Our Mission
Food. Education. Hope.
Food.
Through weekly classes led by chefs, nutritionists and other organizations, we will provide a healthy meal to those in the neighborhood. While cooking, discuss why the ingredients are important to health. Near term goal is to also provide the ingredients to take home and make with our recipe.
(Food-as-Medicine)
With Partners like the Ursuline Sisters, PNC Bank, Legal Aid, Food Strong and local educators, provide Literacy, Math, AI, Financial Wellness, and Legal classes.
Education.
Guest speakers who can share stories about their journey from urban neighborhoods to success as a priest, bishop, doctor, lawyer, community leader, or politician.
Hope.
Our First Center
In 2029, The Bishop Pilla Education and Family Center, will have partnered with Diocesan, Hospital, University, and Local organizations to support programming at two renovated buildings and an additional 12,000 sqft Family Center.
Built on the site of the historic 127 year old St Philomena Campus, it will be recognized nationally for Food-as-Medicine and Community Programs that support the revitalization of this neighborhood in East Cleveland.
Where there is currently Despair, there will be Hope.
The Bishop Pilla Center
History
September 25, 1904 - the original Church was dedicated by Bishop Horstmann. led by Pastor Joseph F Smith
1911 - Four Room School built, Ursuline sisters staffed
September 1924 - School addition added two more floors.
April 1925 - completion of turning the church 90 degrees, adding extensions front and back
May 1937 - Votteler,Holtkamp&Sparling organ,choir loft.
November 1950 - a new school addition was added.
2010 - Merged with St Ann, St Louis, Christ the King
Recent Progress
2024 - Diocesan approval of the Bishop Pilla Center
$298K+ in Contractor In-Kind Donations
Plaster, Paint, Electrical, Plumbing, Flooring, Removal of 2 Buildings
New Kitchen, Handicap Ramp & Rail
November 24 - First Event: hosted UH Diabetes Retreat
January 25 - Advisory Council Created
Case, UH, Clinic, Diocese, Ursuline, Chefs
April 25 - Wed Healthy Lunch Series Started
July 25 - Daily Exterior Property Cleanup Begun
August 25 - Powerhouse, White House Demolition
County funded, Replaced with a Garden
The New Bishop Pilla Family Center, 2029
Fall 2025
Food Strong On-site Healthy Food Education
Literacy & Math Classes
Continuing Weekly Healthy Lunches
Financial Education with PNC