Senator Pérez Receives Hunger Fighter Award for Work to Combat Childhood Hunger

Senator Pérez Receives Hunger Fighter Award for Work to Combat Childhood Hunger

SACRAMENTO – The California Hunger Action Coalition has selected Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) as the recipient of the 2025 Hunger Fighter Award in recognition of her work to combat child hunger and her authorship of S.B. 411, the "Stop Child Hunger Act".

“I am honored to receive the 2025 Hunger Fighter Award from the California Hunger Action Coalition,” said Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena). “Their critical mission aligns with my work to prevent childhood hunger though S.B. 411. This legislation will help more California students have healthy meals during the summer months when schools are closed.”

Members of the California Hunger Action Coalition present Senator Sasha Renée Pérez (D-Pasadena) with the 2025 Hunger Fighter Award. (Photo: Office of Sen. Pérez)

S.B. 411 has received unanimous, bipartisan support from the Senate Education Committee and Senate Human Services Committee.

The legislation will streamline the signup process for the federal SUN Bucks program. Specifically, S.B. 411 will create an online application allowing more than a million eligible students across California to have access to healthy food. The SUN Bucks program provides enrolled families $40 per month for food in June, July, and August ($120 total) when children do not have access to school meals.

“I am grateful to our California Hunger Action Coalition partners, the California Association of Food Banks and End Child Poverty CA, who along with SEIU California are sponsoring S.B. 411, the "Stop Child Hunger Act", and helping us expand access to this important program,” said Senator Pérez.

The California Hunger Action Coalition (CHAC) is a broad-based membership organization of volunteers united in the belief that access to adequate, nutritious and safe food is a fundamental human right. Over its 28 years, CHAC has organized the foremost statewide and regional anti-hunger groups across California.

 (Photo: Office of Sen. Pérez)

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Senator Sasha Renée Pérez is Chair of the Senate Education Committee and represents the 25th Senate District that includes the communities of Glendale, Pasadena, Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Claremont, Glendora, La Cañada Flintridge, La Crescenta-Montrose, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Rosemead, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South Pasadena, Temple City, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Upland, and San Antonio Heights.