Denise Cerreta

In 2003, Denise’s career changed from cafe owner to philanthropist and social entrepreneur. She is the founder of One World Everybody Eats [OWEE], a simple pay-what-you-can idea that has ripened into a global non-profit. It was a single moment in a standard day at her cafe, one that she calls her ‘Field of Dreams’ experience, that inspired this dramatic shift in the way she – and now, the world – views and supports feeding those who are hungry.

Denise leads the OWEE Board of Directors that oversees more than 60 cafes around the world that so far, have served nearly 2 million meals. Growing from a business owner to a visionary leader, Denise continues to support the ongoing expansion while forging relationships with like-minded thinkers in small communities as well as on the world stage such as Panera Bread, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul foundation, and more.

Working from a core belief in the delicate integration of compassion, food, community and social change, Denise is considered a pioneer in social service provision, and simply by sharing her own experiences, inspires others to do the same. She speaks about social entrepreneurship, and models the way for others to act on the age-old need for creating food security. She also hosts the annual One World Summit, aimed at supporting and inspiring café owners and the public in their own motivations to end world hunger.