Giving Back: The Foundation has a program called Healthy and Yummy ©® which is our school outreach program. We are supporting the American Academy of Chefs Foundation with scholarship for young culinarians. The American Academy of Chefs is the honor society of the American Culinary Federation. The Chairman of the American Academy is Chef Joe Aiello, CEC, AAC, Hall of Fame. These scholarships will go to students entering culinary school to become future culinarians. www.acfchefs.org Culinary Contributions: In 2023, I was fortunate to be invited to attend the 2023 American Culinary Federation Convention in New Orleans via a former board member of my foundation, Chef Elizabeth Mikesell ,who was being honored with the Presidential Medallion 2023. During the 2023 convention, I met the new incoming chairman of the American Academy of Chefs – Chef Joe Aiello , CEC, AAC, HOF , and outgoing Chairman, Chef Americo “Rico” S. DiFronzo, CEC CCA, AAC, HBOT who took the time to welcome me to be a guest at their table and educated me about the mission of the Academy. I wanted to be able to help grow the mission therefore I volunteered my time to introduce the American Academy of Chefs to members in the corporate world who may not have heard about the organization. It has been a labor of love for me to do so to over 500 businesses, and written letters on behalf of Chef Marquis and Chef Aiello to individuals’ chefs, restaurants, CEOs from the food industry as well as non-food industries corporate leaders. Culinary Appointments: Recently, I was appointed as an Honorary Board of Trustees of the American Academy of Chefs, awarded by the President of the American Culinary Federation the President Medal of Excellence by President and Chef Rene Marquis in Tampa Florida. In Phoenix at the National American Culinary Federation Convention, I will be inducted as an Honorary Fellow for my work with the American Academy of Chefs.
Final Words: Overcoming Cancer: I am grateful for the work that I am doing and to be alive as I was diagnosed with uterus cancer in June of 2019. It was a very dark time in my life as I had to step down from the Foundation which I founded to fight for my own life. I overcame cancer with the help of God and the support of my board members and a dear friend, Arne Sorenson , former Chairman of Marriott, who died from cancer February 15, 2021. I have regained my strength and ability to continue my work with the foundation’s mission as well as continued to keep the promise to “ Tree ” to be effective in the lives of young children. All this has been an unexpected blessing and not even on my bucket list or prayer list. I am just very humbled and grateful to do my part in advancing these wonderful organizations with the next generation of chefs and to help end food insecurity.
HOSPITALITY NEWS JUNE | Page 25
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