W. K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF)

The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF was founded in June 1930 as the W.K. Kellogg Child Welfare Foundation by breakfast cereal pioneer Will Keith Kellogg. The W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF) places the optimal development of children at the center of all they do and calls for healing the profound racial gaps and inequities that exist in communities. They believe in supporting and building upon the mindsets, methods and modes of change that hold promise to advance children’s best interests generally, and those of vulnerable children in particular. Concentrating their resources on early childhood (prenatal to age 8), within the context of families and communities, offers the best opportunity to dramatically reduce the vulnerability caused by poverty and racial inequity over time. There is strong evidence that optimal child development means providing children with the stimulus, tools and support necessary for their emotional, intellectual, physical and cultural growth. To achieve this, they organize their work and investments toward attaining three strategic goals: Educated Kids: Increase the number of children who are reading-and-math proficient by third grade.   Healthy Kids: Increase the number of children born at a healthy birth weight and who receive the care and healthy food they need for optimal development.   Secure Families: Increase the number of children and families living at least 200 percent above the poverty level.   WKKF works throughout the United States, in Haiti, Mexico, northeastern Brazil and southern Africa, and with sovereign tribes.