The Emeril Lagasse Foundation announces grants to support youth organizations, families of hospitality industry workers, and community meals.
NEW ORLEANS, La. – Emeril Lagasse Foundation announced today that it is awarding $500,000 in grants to provide vital support to nonprofit organizations affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a multi-tiered relief response, the Foundation will grant immediate funding as well as long-term support to youth programs and families of hospitality industry workers in Louisiana, Nevada, and Florida.
“The need to support the youth in our community is a priority of Alden and I through the work of our Foundation. The need is more overwhelming than ever,” says Emeril Lagasse. “We are committed to our mission of helping disadvantaged youth during this extraordinary time.”
The most recent round of rapid response grants, totaling $150,000, is helping organizations that provide essential services to vulnerable communities. These organizations include: Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, Covenant House, Café Reconcile, Café Hope, Liberty’s Kitchen, Youth Empowerment Project, and Three Square Food Bank of Las Vegas. At the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, the Emeril Lagasse Foundation successfully raised more than $150,000 for non-profits in Walton & Okaloosa Counties and awarded another $150,000 in grants to Greater Ft. Lauderdale/Miami Dade non-profits providing services for individuals with developmental disabilities. In addition to the immediate grant funding, the Foundation is collaborating with Emeril’s Homebase to provide weekly meals to youth in the community, as well as, to Emeril’s restaurant team and family.
With the expectation that the need for support will continue to grow, the Foundation’s board of directors allocated $125,000 in grant funds to support the needs of local hospitality industry workers. This second round of funding will be disbursed in the fall. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation invites others to join in its commitment to this essential industry. The Foundation is proud to continue to work together with the community while navigating this difficult time.
About Emeril Lagasse Foundation:
Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501c(3) public charity headquartered in New Orleans. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education with a focus on life skills development. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $13.5 million to children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. The Foundation recently launched its signature program, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, a national education initiative created to enrich the lives of elementary and middle school children through a fun, fresh perspective on food. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit Emeril.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
