May. 17, 2018
Andrew Hall and Jeremy Bryant
The CBE Legacy Award celebrates public education in Calgary and the individuals who have contributed to our communities. In every corner of the city, across the country and beyond, our alumni have made a lasting impact.
Public education makes a difference in our communities, our country and our world. Legacy Award recipients embody the work of the public education system and represent the legacy of the CBE: preparing students for life, work and inspiring life-long learning.
The CBE Board of Trustees presented the seventh Legacy Award to Andrew Hall and Jeremy Bryant, founders of Mealshare, at the Public Board Meeting on May 15, 2017.
Mealshare works to end youth hunger by making it simple for individuals and businesses to share meals with youth in need. Andrew Hall and Jeremy Bryant are cousins, best friends and business partners, as well as being CBE graduates.
Between them, they have attended six CBE schools.
Andrew graduated in 2007 after attending Dr. E.W. Coffin School, Senator Patrick Burns School and William Aberhart High school.
Jeremy also graduated in 2007 after attending Nellie McClung School, John Ware School and Henry Wise Wood High School.
Since 2013, Mealshare has provided over 1.9 million meals to people in need in cities across Canada, and recently in the U.S. Mealshare is based on a simple concept: when you buy a meal, you give a meal.
Mealshare partners with restaurants in various cities by placing its logo next to a few menu items. When a customer orders a Mealshare-branded item, the restaurant contributes one dollar to Mealshare. Most of those funds are forwarded to a partner charity, allowing them to purchase the groceries and ingredients needed for one meal. In Calgary, Mealshare partners with the Calgary Drop-in and Rehab Center and Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids. Internationally, they partner with Save the Children.
“These young men embody many of the results we want to see in our CBE students. They are passionate, community-minded individuals who demonstrate the difference that can be made by graduates of the public education system,” said Trina Hurdman, Board Chair, CBE.
“Sometimes we think that it’s too difficult for any one person to make a difference. Whenever we feel that way, we should challenge ourselves to think about Andrew and Jeremy, and the two million meals they have provided to hungry youth in this country.”
Andrew and Jeremy grew up in Calgary and spent their youth as students, athletes, travellers and volunteers. They attended the University of Victoria and University of Alberta respectively, where they both earned Bachelor of Commerce degrees with specializations in Entrepreneurship and Accounting.
Early in their corporate careers, they recognized something important. They wanted their careers to be in their control and to be engaged in employment where they could make a positive difference in their community.
Since launching in 2013 with just two restaurants, Mealshare now employs a team of 14 and has partnered with over 325 restaurants. By 2022, they want to expand Mealshare to 25 cities and to provide over four million meals to youth each and every year.
Mealshare has received the 2016 Canadian Social Venture of the Year Award (by Air Miles) and the 2015 Community Impact Awards from the Calgary Chamber of Commerce and Small Business B.C. Jeremy and Andrew were also recognized as two of Canada’s Top 30 under 30 Sustainability Leaders by Corporate Knights Magazine in 2015.
Congratulations, Jeremy Bryant and Andrew Hall! We are proud that you are part of the Calgary Board of Education legacy.
