Our Story
Cindy Kaplan and Mishelle Rudzinski founded SPOON in Portland, Oregon after they met while searching for answers to the health issues they saw in their newly adopted children from Kazakhstan. Both children suffered from severe malnutrition that was entirely preventable.
These experiences revealed a greater need for millions of children, one that Cindy and Mishelle quickly realized was not being addressed by existing systems. Not in Kazakhstan. Not in Oregon. Not anywhere.
Since its inception in 2007, SPOON has engaged a dedicated community of staff, Board members, advisors, volunteers, and supporters. With expertise in pediatrics, nutrition, disability, feeding, alternative care, epidemiology, public health, and child development, our team is united by our common vision: a world where ALL children are valued and nourished.
How We Work
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SPOON serves children who are highly vulnerable to malnutrition. There are 250 million children around the globe who could benefit from our services.
