Portia Young Champions Our Mission Through Partnerships and 20+ Year History with Hunger Task Force

For Portia Young, partnering with Hunger Task Force is deeply personal and driven by her connection to Milwaukee and firm belief in the power of community. From her early days as a Milwaukee news anchor and reporter to her current role as Director of Corporate Public Relations at Sargento, Portia has remained a steadfast advocate of our Free & Local mission. She uses her platform to amplify Hunger Task Force’s commitment to feeding people today and ending future hunger.

Portia’s relationship with Hunger Task Force began shortly after she moved to Milwaukee in 2003 to join WISN 12 news team. Originally from the Midwest, she immediately felt a sense of home in the city. “I guess the cows called me home,” she jokes.

Through her reporting, she first encountered Hunger Task Force while covering the Food For Families campaign. “I was struck by the organization’s warmth, dedication and relentless commitment to ending hunger,” shares Portia. Hunger Task Force has remained a trusted resource, not only for the community but also for the newsroom, helping connect journalists with stories of local need.

When Portia joined the team at Sargento a decade later, she was pleased to find an established partnership between the company and Hunger Task Force. That alignment spoke volumes about both organizations’ shared values – compassion, dignity and commitment to serving people facing food insecurity. “Hunger Task Force’s reach extends well beyond Milwaukee,” reflects Portia. “The work supports communities across Wisconsin, reaching even the home base of Sargento in Plymouth.”

At Sargento, Portia has been instrumental in strengthening the partnership between the two organizations. She has helped expand collaborations with major sports teams like the Green Bay Packers and Milwaukee Brewers by growing the Sargento Touchdowns for Hunger program and launching Double Helping for Hunger.

Beyond corporate initiatives, Portia believes in hands-on community engagement. Giving back is a core value at Sargento and embedded in the company’s culture since its founding by Leonard A. Gentine. “It’s not just a responsibility—it’s our identity as a company,” she recognizes.

For Portia, Hunger Task Force is more than a professional partner. “I can call people at Hunger Task Force my friends,” she shares. “I’ve known the staff for years, and we’ve developed deep relationships that go beyond the work.”

Portia has witnessed Hunger Task Force’s impact firsthand, particularly during the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. “During the pandemic,” Portia recalls, “Hunger Task Force was a true champion, getting food to people when they were struggling most.” Recognizing the organization’s crucial role and the great need across the state, Portia took pride in how quickly her leaders at Sargento responded by coordinating with Hunger Task Force to increase in-kind product donations to enable Hunger Task Force to strategically distribute food to those who needed it most. Portia helped champion those efforts through her connections with local media. This key moment further solidified the vital partnership between the two organizations.

Portia Young is a true Friend of Free & Local and exemplifies how long-term partnerships and consistent community engagement can create lasting change. Her leadership shows the power of collaborative action, demonstrating how individuals and organizations can combine resources, passion and expertise to combat hunger and build stronger communities.