The Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation Present the
John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award.
Award ceremony presentation at the International Plant-Based Nutrition Healthcare Conference in Palm Dessert, CA - September 2025.
The John Barnard Award for Uplifting Communities stands as a testament to retired, long-time Vitamix CEO, John Barnard’s enduring commitment to plant-based nutrition and community health. This award amplifies his vision, celebrating leaders building like-minded legacies in their communities to make plant-based, whole-food solutions accessible, empowering communities to thrive.
The award is a partnership of The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation.
Announcing Inaugural Honoree of the John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award
We are proud to share that Angelia Dickinson, MS, ALC, ADC, DipACLM has been honored with The John Barnard Award for Uplifting Communities, presented by The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation. This award recognizes her leadership through Wholistic Wellness Community, Inc., where through her visionary work, Angelia has empowered lives by bridging awareness, education, and access to whole food, plant-based nutrition in underserved schools and communities in Africatown and across South Alabama. With heart-centered leadership, she meets people where they are, listens deeply, and fosters trust. Angelia uplifts others by honoring their lived experiences, nurturing authentic connection, and responding to both immediate needs and long-term hopes. Her work not only creates measurable change in community health and wellbeing, it also builds a culture of belonging, care, and mutual transformation.
Learn more about Wholistic Wellness Community, Inc. here!
The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation are proud to announce the launch of the John Barnard Uplifting Communities Award, a new honor recognizing exceptional leaders who are transforming communities through plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine. Named in honor of John Barnard, retired long-time CEO of Vitamix and founding member of the Vitamix Foundation Board of Directors, this award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated outstanding dedication to improving community health, particularly in underserved communities.
Celebrating Visionary Leadership in Community Health
John Barnard’s legacy is rooted in a deep commitment to advancing the accessibility of plant-based whole food nutrition. This award amplifies his vision by recognizing and supporting leaders who are actively driving change in their communities, working to eliminate health disparities, and creating a lasting impact through education, advocacy, and innovation.
The award recipient will receive:
A $25,000 grant to expand their plant-based community initiatives.
A co-branded award commemorating their contributions.
Professional development opportunities, including travel and recognition at the Power of the Plate Conference.
A feature profile in The Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation publications, as well as the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention.
Opportunities to collaborate with The Plantrician Project and Vitamix Foundation to further their mission.
Honorees for this award demonstrate:
Community Impact: Demonstrated, measurable improvements in community health through plant-based initiatives.
Years of Service: A track record of at least two years of dedicated work in whole food, plant-based nutrition and lifestyle medicine.
Commitment to Underserved Communities – Initiatives focused on bridging gaps in nutrition access and reducing health disparities.
Leadership & Innovation: A proven ability to inspire, lead, and implement meaningful change.
Collaboration & Connectivity: Efforts to build networks and partnerships that amplify community impact.
A selection committee composed of experts from The Plantrician Project and the Vitamix Foundation carefully reviews all nominations, and the 2026 nomination process is now open. Deadline to submit: December 12, 2025.
Please contact [email protected] with any questions
About The Plantrician Project
The Plantrician Project is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to promoting whole food, plant-based nutrition for both human and planetary health. Its mission is to educate, equip, empower, and unite healthcare practitioners, educators, and students to advocate for this dietary pattern, recognizing its benefits in preventing and reversing diet-related diseases. The Plantrician Project focuses on building a network of healthcare professionals who are competent and committed to incorporating plant-based nutrition into their practice to better serve their patients.
www.plantricianproject.org
About the Vitamix Foundation
The Vitamix Foundation is a nonprofit, grantmaking organization established by Vitamix to help shape a nation where diet-driven illness does not exist. Its mission is to collaborate and partner with others to further the knowledge, consumption, and enjoyment of plant-based whole foods. Grantmaking focuses on advancing nutrition science, knowledge, and innovation to improve maternal and child health outcomes by increasing access to plant-based whole foods, evidence-based nutrition education, and the resources to ensure sustainable and scalable change for families and future generations. www.vitamixfoundation.org.
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Copyright © 2025 The Plantrician Project. All Rights Reserved.