NEW ORLEANS (press release) – It was recently shared that the Emeril Lagasse Foundation has awarded over $650,000 in grants during its fall grant cycle to non-profit organizations committed to empowering youth through culinary, nutrition and arts education. These grants will enhance programs that foster life skills and create meaningful opportunities for youth to reach their full potential. Beneficiaries include: Covenant House New Orleans, Edible Education Experience, New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), Son of a Saint, Youth Empowerment Project (YEP), Café Hope, Pilot Light, and Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty) Foundation.
Also, the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, a program of Emeril Lagasse Foundation, will enable five Latino youth to receive culinary education in New Orleans through the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship. The students will gain hands-on industry experience, as the program works to diversify future kitchen leadership. Established in 2016, the Aaron Sanchez Scholarship is the signature education program of ASIF.
“Alden and I are inspired by the incredible work of these organizations,” said Chef Emeril Lagasse in a statement about the grants. “The impact they have on the lives of young people, their families, and their communities is far-reaching and we are proud to support their efforts in creating a brighter future for our youth.”
Covenant House New Orleans has been a sanctuary for unhoused youth aged 16-22, including pregnant and parenting youth, since 1987. The organization provides safe shelter, intensive care management, and a range of services including education, workforce development, and nutritional support. Grant funds will provide essential upgrades to Covenant House’s aging facility, ensuring a safe and comfortable environment for the 700 youth they serve.
Edible Education Experience (EEE) has operated the Emeril Lagasse Kitchen House and Edible Gardens in Orlando, Florida since 2017. EEE offers hands-on nutrition education to students and families. With a focus on grades 3-8, it teaches program participants about where food comes from and how to prepare it. Grant funds will provide critical repairs to the Kitchen House, preserving this vital educational space for the 700 youth they serve.
New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) is dedicated to educating a diverse community of learners to sustain New Orleans’ ever-evolving hospitality industry. Offering vocational programs, continuing education, and courses for culinary enthusiasts, NOCHI creates accessible career pathways while promoting economic development in the culinary arts and hospitality sectors. Grant funds will go toward the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Scholarship which was established in 2022 and provides funding for two opportunity youth to attend NOCHI’s 100-day culinary certificate program, providing them with the skills and resources needed to thrive in the hospitality industry.
Son of a Saint enhances the lives of fatherless boys through mentorship, emotional support, and life skills development. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation-Son of a Saint Nutrition Education Program helps mentees overcome barriers to health equity by providing education and resources to make lifelong healthy choices. Many families face challenges accessing nutritious food, but this program empowers young men to break cycles of poor health and achieve lasting well-being. Grant funds will support the program’s growth, equipping 300 at-risk youth with essential skills for healthier futures.
Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) engages young people through community-based education, mentoring, employment readiness, and enrichment programs that help them build skills and strengthen connections to family and community. YEP Enriches, an out-of-school-time program for youth ages 7-18, offers after-school and summer programming with activities such as drumline, dance, basketball, arts and music instruction, tutoring, and homework assistance. Grant funds support YEP Enriches, ensuring continued access to these vital opportunities for250 youth in the Central City and New Orleans East neighborhoods.
Café Hope seeks to change the lives of opportunity youth through a 16-week program designed to meet their holistic needs rather than attempting to rehabilitate youth in the juvenile justice system through incarceration or probation. Since its inception, Café Hope has served over 600 participants. Grant funds will support 50 opportunity youth in their Seeds of Success program, providing further training opportunities for students, exposing them to various career pathways and supplying them with transferable work skills.
Pilot Light, supported by a grant from theAarón Sánchez Impact Fund, provides culinary education that connects students to food and culture. Grant funds will engage 70 Latino students at a Chicago public high school by supporting culinary education with leadership training and a Mobile Kitchen Cart. Additionally, 28 lessons and seven videos will be translated into Spanish to expand access to culturally relevant food education.
Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty) Foundation inspires the next generation of talented opportunity youth through music education, instruction, mentorship, and performance. Grant funds will support the mission of the Troy Andrews (Trombone Shorty) Foundation, including its Music Academy, offering mentorship to students from more than 15 high schools in the New Orleans area.
