Rhys W. Powell
Founder and President
Red Rabbit LLC
New York, N.Y.
Age: 37
The terrorist attacks on the United States on Sept. 11, 2001, not only shook Rhys Powell, it also prompted memories of growing up in the Bahamas with access to fresh fruits and vegetables ? a far cry from his career as a trader on Wall Street at the time. ?Working in finance taught me to work hard and to be superfocused, but 9/11 made me realize I wanted something more in my life and led me to start a company that would make a positive impact in the world,? Powell recalls. He launched Red Rabbit in 2005. ?Every day I get to see the impact that my company has on kids. We send out more than twenty-thousand made-from-scratch meals a day, often to children in high-need areas that might not have access to nutritious meals at home,? he says.
In addition to providing meals, Red Rabbit teaches children and their families about healthy eating through its food labs, blogs and newsletters. Recipient of a Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business Award, it services more than 150 schools throughout New York City. B-Corporation, of which Red Rabbit is a member, named the company ?Manhattan Small Business of the Year? in 2013, and ?Best for NYC? and? ?Best for the World Business? in 2016. ?It?s inspiring to see the passion my employees bring to work every day, from our cooks making special meals for ?their kids,? to our drivers and customer service team who have built personal relationships with our principals and teachers,? Powell says. ?I?d like to see a Red Rabbit in every city in the U.S.?
Powell likes to spend time with his wife and two children and try out new recipes. A Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate with a bachelor?s degree in computer science, he confesses he would love to learn to play the guitar.
