Food for Thought
Every Third Tuesday, Malibu Feeds its schools.
How a simple idea became one of MEF’s most community-rooted programs.
It started with a question: what if supporting Malibu's schools was as easy as going out to dinner?
Every third Tuesday of the month, participating Malibu restaurants donate 10% of their proceeds to the Malibu Education Foundation. No tickets to buy. No auction items to bid on. No gala to get dressed for. Just dinner — at a restaurant you already love, in a community you already support.
That's Food for Thought.
The program launched in 2024 under the leadership of MEF board member and Vice Chair, Ian Roven, who brought his deep roots in Malibu's business community and his chairmanship of the PaliBu Chamber of Commerce to the task of building something simple, sustainable, and genuinely fun. What he built is exactly that.
Why it works
Food for Thought works because it removes friction. Fundraising fatigue is real — especially in a community that has been through as much as Malibu has. Asking people to show up for yet another event, buy another table, or write another check takes energy. Asking them to have dinner on a Tuesday, once a month, takes almost none.
For participating restaurants, it's an opportunity to put their community values on the table — literally. Malibu's business community has shown up for its schools in remarkable ways over the past two years, and Food for Thought is one of the most visible expressions of that partnership.
For MEF, it's a monthly reminder that building great schools isn't a one-time gift. It's a recurring commitment — the same way a great school is a recurring commitment, every single day.
How to participate
Dining in Malibu on the third Tuesday of the month? Check our current list of participating restaurants and make your plans. Dine in, take out, or delivery — the donation happens automatically. No extra steps required.
Own or manage a Malibu restaurant and want to get involved? We'd love to have you. Contact us at info@malibueducationfoundation.org to become a Food for Thought partner.
Every Tuesday. Every bite. Every student.