Hunt Valley, MD — McCormick For Chefs®’, the Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Company, $10,000 charitable contribution to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s ProStart program will support students as they pursue their dreams of a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.
Britni Birt, ProStart high school student at LISD TECH Center in Michigan, notes “Foodservice has always been a passion of mine. In fact, it’s been part of my life for as long as I can remember, with many of my family members in the industry. ProStart and McCormick For Chefs® have enabled me to fully explore my passion for food and dream to manage an operation one day. The learnings and connections I’ve made provide me with confidence as I begin my culinary career.”
Dawn Sweeney, President and Chief Executive Officer of the National Restaurant Association and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, adds, “Working with partners like McCormick For Chefs® helps us connect the classroom and industry and support the development of new talent into tomorrow's industry leaders.”
ProStart is a nationwide, two-year program reaching 90,000 students nationwide in 1,700 high schools. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities, builds practical skills and develops a strong foundation for students to carry with them throughout their careers.
As a national ProStart partner, McCormick For Chefs® demonstrated its commitment by donating $1 and providing red wristbands and stickers to every attendee who had their badge scanned at the company’s National Restaurant Association Show booth.
Phil Kafarakis, Vice President of McCormick For Chefs®, said, “ProStart plays an important role in helping set high standards for the industry and for culinary professionals. We applaud and fully embrace any efforts that support and help real students pursue their passion for flavor and culinary adventure. Our $10,000 donation further confirms McCormick For Chefs®’ dedication to partnering and growing the ProStart program. This initiative is one more way McCormick & Company gives back to the communities in which it operates, instilling its Power of People™ philosophy.”
About ProStart
More than 90,000 students in 45 states, Guam and 14 U.S. military bases, at home and abroad, participate in ProStart, a two-year educational program offered by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and state restaurant associations. The career-building program blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management and culinary skills needed for a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry. For more information on the ProStart program, visit www.prostart.restaurant.org or find us on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/WeRRestaurants or Facebook, http://www.facebook.com/NationalRestaurantAssociation.
About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) enhances the restaurant industry's service to the public through education, community engagement, and promotion of career opportunities. The restaurant and foodservice industry is comprised of 945,000 restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 13 million employees, making it one of the nation's largest employers. The NRAEF is focused on working with the Association to lead America's restaurant industry into a new era of prosperity, prominence and participation by providing the valuable tools and resources needed to educate our current and incoming employees. For more information on the NRAEF, visit www.nraef.org.
About McCormick & Company – The Flavor Expert:
Founded in 1889, McCormick & Company, Incorporated is a global leader in flavor with the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of spices, herbs, seasonings, specialty foods and flavors to the entire food industry—retail outlets, food manufacturers and foodservice businesses. McCormick For Chefs®—McCormick’s Food Away From Home division—provides unrivaled solutions to the distinct needs of professional foodservice with its McCormick Culinary™, Lawry’s®, OLD BAY®, Thai Kitchen® and Zatarain’s® products. Chefs and operators can be confident that McCormick brings more sensory science experience, product innovation and flavor expertise for quality taste experiences. For more information and recipe ideas, visit www.McCormickForChefs.com. Follow-us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mccormickforchefs.
Source: McCormick & Company
