135,000 Meals and Counting: SUSD’s Patti Bilbrey Earns National 'Summer Hunger Hero' Honors for Innovative Food Program 

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For Patti Bilbrey, ensuring Scottsdale Unified School District students have access to nutritious food doesn't end when the final school bell rings. It is a high-energy, year-round mission driven by creative collaboration, unstoppable teamwork, and a deep love for the children she serves. 

Bilbrey, the Director of Nutrition Services for SUSD, has officially been named a national 2026 Summer Hunger Hero by the non-profit organization No Kid Hungry. This prestigious annual celebration shines a spotlight on extraordinary individuals from across the United States who go above and beyond to end childhood hunger. Out of countless advocates nationwide, Bilbrey is one of just ten honorees selected this year, bringing a massive national victory straight home to the Scottsdale community. 

Summer is famously known as the most challenging season for childhood nutrition. When school lets out, the free and reduced-price meals that families rely on suddenly disappear, stretching tight household budgets to the breaking point. 

Seeing the hurdle local families were facing, Bilbrey and the entire SUSD Nutrition Services team refused to let kids fall through the cracks. They jumped into action, joining forces with Scottsdale Community College to pioneer an innovative, flexible "non-congregate" summer meals program. Instead of requiring families to travel for daily meals, this model allowed them to pick up an entire week’s worth of ready-to-eat, frozen, and shelf-stable food all at once. 

The strategy was a staggering success. Under Bilbrey's leadership, SUSD will be serving 135,000 meals to local families over the summer break. 

“Patti Bilbrey exemplifies the work of No Kid Hungry,” said Allison Dela Cuesta, associate director of No Kid Hungry. “She is out and about in the community doing what we work and advocate for. But she takes it to the next level. She goes above and beyond and it’s the kids that benefit. It’s always about the kids.” 

Bilbrey made it clear that pulling off a logistical miracle of this size was anything but a solo act. The massive achievement was fueled entirely by her dedicated team stepping up, uniting behind the mission, and working tirelessly to keep local children fed all summer long. 

True to her leadership style, Bilbrey insists that pulling off a logistical miracle of this size was anything but a solo act. 

“Expanding our reach to this new model was a massive undertaking, and there is absolutely no way we could have achieved it without our incredible SUSD Nutrition staff and our exceptional partners at Scottsdale Community College,” Bilbrey said. “In our department, we are known as 'Team Awesome' for a reason, because everyone gives 100% for our students!” 

While the national trophy is a major milestone, Bilbrey says the heartbeat of the program remains the same. 

“While this formal national recognition is deeply humbling, the kind words and heartfelt support from our Scottsdale families mean the absolute most to me,” she added. “We do this work with a simple daily reminder, because kids. I am incredibly grateful to ride along on this journey with such dedicated colleagues and friends.” 

Bilbrey and the other national honorees will be celebrated by No Kid Hungry throughout the year as part of the organization’s ongoing mission to ensure every child has access to the healthy food they need to thrive. 

For more information on SUSD Nutrition Services head to: www.susd.org/nutrition  

Media Contacts:  

Kristine Harrington, (480) 404-2417, kristineharrington@susd.org;   

Cymphanie Sherman, 602-615-7325, csherman@susd.org  

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#ChooseSUSD 
With nearly 20,000 students in all schools, the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD) has been a premier choice for pre-kindergarten through grade 12 public education for almost 130 years. Located northeast of metropolitan Phoenix, the District serves the educational needs of students and families in Phoenix, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, Tempe, and Scottsdale. A highly experienced, professionally certified teaching staff fosters a diverse and rigorous educational environment that engages all students in world-class, future-focused learning. Offering gifted learning, special education, career and technical education, and a variety of athletics, arts and enrichment programs and clubs, SUSD provides the rich environment today’s students need to explore their interests, develop important social skills, and grow into tomorrow’s leaders. For more information, visit www.susd.org and follow along on social media: Facebook: @ScottsdaleUSD, Instagram: @ScottsdaleUnifiedSD, LinkedIn and YouTube. 

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About No Kid Hungry 

No child should go hungry in America. But in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, 1 in 6 kids could face hunger this year. No Kid Hungry is working to end childhood hunger by helping launch and improve programs that give all kids the healthy food they need to thrive. This is a problem we know how to solve. No Kid Hungry is a campaign of Share Our Strength, an organization committed to ending hunger and poverty.