Our STAFF
LYDIA SARSON
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
lsarson@hfhk.org
Lydia Sarson joined Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids as Executive Director in 2021 after nearly a decade spent in international business development, in both the private and nonprofit sectors. Using her experience in corporate development and nonprofit management, combined with her personal love of cooking and gardening, Lydia is excited to continue HFHK’s mission to “veggie-cate the First State.”
Lydia holds a B.S. in International Relations, a B.A. in German Language Studies, and a B.A. in Russian Language Studies, from West Chester University, where she graduated Magna Cum Laude. She also holds a post-graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Drexel University. Lydia is a former member of the Rotary Club of Philadelphia, a board member of The Rotary Foundation, and a founding member of the Philadelphia Global Business Alliance. She currently sits on the Delaware Advisory Council of the United States Global Leadership Coalition, for which she was a member of the Pennsylvania Council for five years, on the steering committee for the Delaware Urban Farm and Food Coalition, and on the Education Committee for the Delaware Council on Farm and Food Policy.
JEN CIPOLLA
PROGRAM MANAGER
jcipolla@hfhk.org
Jen Cipolla has worked for Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids since May 2019. As the Program Manager, she enjoys working with children, teaching them new skills and watching their curiosity bloom as they plant gardens and try new vegetables. Jen was a certified swim instructor for the YMCA of Delaware for 9 years. She has incorporated her teaching experience into how she interacts with students and teachers at our Partner Schools. Jen has an M.S. in Environmental Engineering and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. Jen is also a board member of the Delaware Association for Environmental Education.
HANNAH KIRBY
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
hkirby@hfhk.org
Hannah Kirby joined the Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids team in July 2024. She graduated from the University of Delaware after earning a Bachelor of Science in Food and Agribusiness Marketing and Management, along with a minor in Nutrition. Her journey in the field has been both educational and hands-on, having spent two enriching summers as an Extension Scholar at the University of Delaware Cooperative Extension. There, she gained valuable experience working in both horticulture as well as health and well-being. She’s passionate about sharing knowledge of gardening and nutrition with the youth of Delaware through HFHK.
PEGGY PREVOZNIK HEINS
CHIEF GROWTH STRATEGIST
pheins@hfhk.org
Peggy Prevoznik Heins joined the Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids team in 2024 eager to support HFHK’s vision for a school garden in every PreK through Middle school in Delaware. As Chief Growth Strategist, Peggy helps articulate the organization’s strategic direction, map and monitor the accompanying growth plan, and manage internal operations for the growing team. An educator and community organizer at heart, Peggy is the founder and former CEO of Serviam Girls Academy, a math and science teacher, and former Director of Parish Social Ministry at Catholic Charities, among many other roles! HFHK offers an ideal environment for supporting Peggy’s passion for educational equity, just distribution of resources, expanded access to life-giving opportunities, especially those that include the outdoors, healthy foods, and a fantastic community of students, educators, and investors!
NINA ELLIS
DEVELOPMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
nellis@hfhk.org
Nina Ellis is a marketing and communications professional with over 8 years of experience working with non-profits serving children. She joined Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids in 2025. Her background spans development, fundraising, project management, event planning and market research. Throughout her career, she had the privilege of working internationally in diverse, multinational environments.
She is thrilled to share the story and vision of HFHK, and help create a healthier generation through school garden education.
GRANTS ASSOCIATE
aberry@hfhk.org
ALEX BERRY
Alex joined Healthy Foods for Healthy Kids as a volunteer in the Fall of 2024 and quickly signed on as Grants Associate. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 2021 with a degree in Science in Society where he worked on the student-run Long Lane Farm and co-managed the University-wide compost program. In a post-Covid move, Alex followed his culinary passions to Los Angeles, cooking in restaurants for several sun-drenched years while learning valuable lessons about community and collaboration. Thrilled to be back on the East Coast again, Alex is excited to continue sharing his passion for healthy food systems and environmental issues through advocating for HFHK’s vision of a garden in every Delaware school.
SARA LEACH
ASSISTANT
sleach@hfhk.org
Sara Leach is a seasoned Virtual Assistant dedicated to helping streamline workflows, manage time effectively, and achieve greater productivity. With a background in business administration and over eight years of experience supporting entrepreneurs and business leaders, Sara specializes in administrative tasks, scheduling, email management, and more. Her goal is to free up the HFHK teams' time so they can focus on the bigger picture and drive HFHK forward.
Program Coordinator
nstewart@hfhk.org
NATHAN STEWART
Nathan Stewart joined the HFHK family in 2025 with a diverse professional background in horticulture, public garden education, and non-profit administration. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Horticulture from Oklahoma State University and has lived in Delaware since 2018. Nathan is an active volunteer with the Harlan Park Civic Association and a member of the outreach and engagement committee for Seed Your Future. His strong passion for connecting youth to gardening stems from the long-term mental and physical health benefits that we can all receive from connecting with the land and environment. He believes that green spaces and healthy foods should be accessible for all Delawareans.