Throughout her lifelong journey spanning across the globe, Tania Marino always had a passion for food. Like many world travelers, Tania journeyed to distant, sun-drenched destinations and developed a passion for entertaining, creating nutritious meals that come from our surrounding environments. 

Growing up on a farm in New Zealand, Tania Marino has been instilled with the importance of food sustainability, nutritious food accessibility, and teamwork. She went on to study economics at The University of Auckland, working globally as a financial analyst and currency trader. Along her professional journey, Tania transitioned into the non-profit sector as a board member and direct service volunteer. After spending two years as a volunteer in the cooking program, Marino joined the Gather team in 2019.

Today, Tania continues her mission with her role as Culinary Director at Gather. A non-profit organization based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Gather creates initiatives and collaborates in coalitions with members of the food and hospitality industry. Throughout Southern New Hampshire and Maine, Gather brings fresh food to the tables of thousands of families. 

Tania was recently recognized as the Nutrition Equity Innovator of the Year from NH Hunger Solutions for her diligence supporting communities struggling with food insecurity. With Tania’s innovative approach to meal preparation, distribution, and her superhuman work ethic, she is a shining example of an Impact Free Jack honoree.

As Culinary Director at Gather, Marino and her team serve 80,000 meals a year to NH residents impacted by food insecurity in the Cooking 4 Community program. Cooking 4 Community is based out of three commercial kitchens: Great Bay Community College, Cross Roads House in Portsmouth, and Barton Hall at UNH in Durham, NH. 

Anyone can volunteer in this expansive program or help in a simple way such as purchasing containers to distribute nutritious meals to thousands of families in the lobby of the pantry market. Homemade meals span from dinner for the whole family as well as soups, sides, and desserts. Because why should perfectly good food go to waste?

More specifically, Gather has fed unsheltered seniors and single mothers. No matter who is being served, Tania ensures that every person is receiving nutritional value in the meals that are being prepared and plenty of time to engage with the surrounding community support systems.

Year round, Tania and her crew host community dinners and cooking events that bring folks together who may find themselves isolated from family or friends. By cooking and serving for these people, Gather aims its sights at reducing loneliness and increasing the quality of life for the elderly population. By fostering these connections, Gather has helped thousands of residents build groups of support and feel included in a loving community. 

To help collect food for a number of Gather factions, Tania established the Seacoast Waste Not coalition with Gather in coastal New Hampshire. Here Marino’s team works closely with leaders in the food and hospitality industry whose businesses generate excess consumable food in any quantity available for donation.

Approximately 40% of food produced in the United States is wasted, while 10% of households lack access to sufficient healthy food. This is despite the fact that much of the food thrown into landfills is still perfectly good to eat.

Seacoast Waste Not has diverted over 5,000 pounds of consumable food from landfills each month. In turn, this food is repurposed back into the local community to feed thousands of families with the Cooking 4 Community program. 

 “The response to Seacoast Waste Not has been overwhelming, far exceeding our expectations and we’re grateful to play a role in helping reduce food waste while simultaneously using surplus quality ingredients to create delicious free meals for those in need,” said Marino to Seacoastonline in November 2024.

Not only does Seacoast Waste Not help the hungry, it also has a broader environmental impact by reducing waste. This is just another example of Tania’s personal philosophy of possessing dedication and enthusiasm for building a healthier and more equitable community. In comparison to other anti-hunger programs, Gather has seen higher demand than any other initiative in 200 years, serving approximately 10,500 individuals each month. 

On top of her work with Gather and Seacoast Waste Not, Tania is a major rugby advocate with the Golden Eagles Association, specifically the Career Advancement Rugby Enhancement (CARE) committee. Co-founded by Free Jacks’ CEO, Alex Magleby, Marino is committed to helping professional rugby players transition to professional careers once they hang up their boots and retire from the game they love in her role as part of the CARE committee. 

Image Featuring: Tania Marino (Right)

Tania’s commitment to supporting rugby players and their career growth beyond the pitch has provided assistance to rugby players by connecting them with career opportunities and encouraging lifelong involvement in the sport to support their overall development. This investment in players’ growth on and off the field helps them become more well-rounded individuals and prepares them for success beyond their playing days, as rugby careers are often short.

Due to budget limitations, these athletes also receive less than ideal compensation during training and competition. To address this, Tania and her team with the CARE program provide players with access to mentors and paid internship opportunities throughout the year, enabling them to advance their careers while pursuing their athletic goals.

Tania Marino envisions a healthier, more sustainable and philanthropic community where anyone can reach out for help in achieving a more prosperous life. Her unwavering support and dedication to local communities have ensured that the organizations she’s worked with will remain pillars of the New England community for generations to come.

The Free Jacks are looking for Impact Free Jack nominees from all walks of life and every corner of New England who have the power to transcend boundaries and create a lasting, positive impact on the lives of others. Honorees will be celebrated at each of the Free Jacks’ home games. 

This partnership with Massachusetts State Lottery aims to highlight and reward everyday heroes who embody the values of service and community, aligning with the Free Jacks’ mission of making a positive impact both on and off the field.

Be sure to buy your tickets for the Free Jack’s 2024 season so that the Free Jacks’ faithful can honor these Impact Free Jacks! The home opener at Veterans Memorial Stadium will be on Saturday, March 15th at 2:00 p.m. EST versus NOLA Gold.

For more opportunities to engage with the Free Jacks community, stay updated on future Free Jacks matches, festivals, and announcements through the Free Jacks’ news page: www.freejacks.com/news

 Get Involved Today

If you know someone who has made a lasting difference in your community, now is the perfect time to share their story. Help the Free Jacks celebrate the unsung heroes who make New England a better place for us all. Submit your nominations and let’s celebrate the power of kindness, generosity, and community spirit!

To nominate someone or learn more about the Impact Free Jack Honoree Awards, click here.

For more opportunities to engage with the Free Jacks community, stay updated on future Free Jacks matches, festivals, and announcements through the Free Jacks’ news page: www.freejacks.com/news