News

PensaCan 2023 was a success, raising the equivalent of 19,261 healthy meals for neighbors in need in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties through donations of food and funds to Manna. In total, the event has now provided more than 77,310 healthy meals to the hungry since its start in 2009!

 

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Florida Northwest again partnered with Manna for this year’s PensaCan: Demolish Hunger, Design Hope. PensaCan is a competition where architectural firms and community amateurs create impressive structures made entirely out of full cans of food. Following a week-long display of the structures at Cordova Mall, all food is donated to Manna for distribution to the hungry of Northwest Florida.

 

A panel of judges voted on the structures on September 22. PensaCan 2023 judges are:

• Madrina Ciano, BLAB TV Host of Rolling with Madrina
• Donald A. Hanto, Hanto + Clarke President
• Laura Hussey, WEAR ABC 3 News Anchor
• Brent Lane, Cat Country 98.7 On Air Personality
• Stephen McCrory, IHMC Robotics Engineer

 

The public voted for the People’s Choice Award September 22 – September 30.

 

At an awards ceremony on October 3 held at Beyond the Grape at Cordova Mall, winners were announced in the following categories:

Best Nutrition Award – Nemours Children’s Health, The GraFEEDi Bridge – Together we CAN Build a Healthier Future

Best Graphics Award – Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture, Egg-cite Your Taste Buds!

Structural Ingenuity Award – STOA Architects, The Temple of Manna at STOA Zen Garden

Best Video Award – STOA Architects, The Temple of Manna at STOA Zen Garden

Most Valuable Award – Ascend Performance Materials Team 3, Cargo Ship

Honorable Mention Award – Ascend Performance Materials Team 2, Crab on the Beach

Jurors’ Favorite Award – Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC), GraFEEDi Bridge

People’s Choice Award – Nemours Children’s Health, The GraFEEDi Bridge – Together we CAN Build a Healthier Future

 

For more information about Manna and other events, please visit www.mannahelps.org.

 

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About AIA Florida Northwest

AIA Florida Northwest strives to provide members with services, activities and knowledge delivery to assist in maintaining the high standard of the architectural profession while encouraging public awareness and appreciation for architecture. For more information about AIA Florida Northwest, please visit www.aianwfl.com.