Team Two’s winning solution focused on transportation hurdles for those in need of food. The team assessed the gap between where vulnerable populations are in the Greater Pittsburgh metro area and the areas the food bank currently serves. With that information, Team Two created a map and assessed which specific zip codes were ripe for intervention and potential partnerships. Team Two received fellowships funded by SAP to work with the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to implement their solution. All teams were invited to share poster presentations during the Pitt Business Catalyst for Impact Symposium: Tackling Food Insecurity and Hunger Through Ethical Analytics. 

Executive support and guidance were provided by executive leaders from:

Impact Highlights

Media Mentions

2022 Katz Catalyst for Impact Symposium

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Student Teams

Solution Summary

Team 2 focused on “closing the meal gap” in Allegheny County by optimizing food networks in the area to enhance the equity of food distribution. They evaluated food bank distribution by poundage and site density, identified potential partners for the food bank and designed a unique scoring index with evidence-based metrics to spatially identify areas of need.

Solution Summary

Providing four solutions, Team 1 addressed how the food bank could combat the micronutrient deficiency amongst pregnant women. 

• “Power box” provisions
• Collaborations with shared stakeholders
• Exploring funding opportunities
• Informational flyers

Solution Summary

Team 3 provided short, middle and long-term solutions to identify the most vulnerable households with food insecurity to provide food equitably. The short-term solution: Work with local partners to increase the collection and distribution of food. The middle-term solution: Create awareness through social media platforms to create a community of volunteers. The long-term solution: Reach out to a bigger audience through collaborating with online food delivery platforms. 

Solution Summary

The solution provided by Team 4 examined the most economical methods to distribute healthy foods and ensure the rulization of donations by recipients. The approach included healthy food boxes with recipes, assembled by voluteers of the food bank. These boxes could minimize the effects of chronic conditions in the population served.

Solution Summary

Team 5 designed solutions to effectively visualize food flow from the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank to consumers.

• Create a dashboard that is integrated with the GPCFB existing portal
• Use APIs to communicate with the database and populate reports and graphs for the GPCFB

Solution Summary

The solution from Team 6 is primarily based on alleviating the geographical barriers faced by the food bank in delivering food and we plan to do that by increasing the volunteer engagement in bridging the gap between people with no access to vehicles, located far from the food banks, and in the most need of food at the food bank. Also providing the Food Bank with a system to track the food distribution to these families. 

Solution Summary

Team 7 addressed optimal distribution of perishable food to those in need, and how to reach or solve last mile problem – with fresh and organic food items. Applying for grant funding to activate community kitches and negotiating year-long contracts with farmers, wholesalers and suppliers were two solutions provided. 

Advisory Committee

Onyinyechi Daniel, Vice President, Data & Analytics Strategy, Highmark Health 

Andrew McElwaine, Vice President, Sustainability, the Heinz Endowments

Albrecht Powell, Managing Director, Data & Applied Intelligence & Pittsburgh Office Managing Director, Accenture

Audrey Russo, President & CEO, Pittsburgh Technology Council

Manpreet Saini, Practice Head, Analytics & Insight, North America, SAP

Lisa Scales, President & CEO, Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Bob Schukai, Executive Vice President, Technology, Mastercard

Graham Watkins, Executive Vice President Supply Chain Transformation & Retail Innovation, Giant Eagle

Andy Hannah, Adjunct Professor, University of Pittsburgh

Sara Moeller, Associate Dean, University of Pittsburgh (Katz)

Christopher Barlow, Director, Corporate Engagement & Career Services, University of Pittsburgh (Katz)

Muntasir Chowdhury, (MBA ’22) Student-Body Representative

Ex-Officio: Sandra Douglas, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Internal Organizing Committee Chair, University of Pittsburgh (Katz)