LRA Education Foundation distributes $50k to Louisiana high schools

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is pleased to announce that it has distributed $50,000 to ProStart^® programs around the state through its ProStart Program Support Fund.

Through annual fundraising efforts of the nine LRA Chapters and support from LRAEF Annual Sponsors, these funds were awarded to eligible ProStart programs in 36 Louisiana high schools. ProStart is a nationwide, two-year program for high school students that develops the best and brightest talent into tomorrow’s industry leaders. From culinary techniques to management skills, ProStart’s industry-driven curriculum provides real-world educational opportunities and builds practical skills and a foundation that will last a lifetime.

Bonnabel Magnet Academy ProStart Instructor Emile Meydrich, LRAEF
Executive Director Alice Glenn and ProStart students. 

The first check was presented to ProStart instructor Emile Meydrich and his students at Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy in Metairie, January 22, 2015.

“We are very appreciative of the LRAEF for these funds,” said Meydrich. “We could not do much of our kitchen lab work and participate in the upcoming ProStart competition without their generosity. It goes a long way in helping the students.”

To be considered, the schools had to indicate needs, with a specific action plan for how the funds would be spent. Schools received an average of $1,400 to help defray the costs of testing materials, perishables, small wares, capital projects, field trips and the upcoming Louisiana Seafood ProStart Student Invitational at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center, March 3-4.

“The LRAEF is proud to offer this assistance to our ProStart schools for the second consecutive year,” said Executive Director Alice Glenn. “We were shocked to discover just how little financial support many of our high schools have to support vital programs like ProStart. The money simply isn’t there. To assist in ensuring that instructors are able to offer their students the best possible ProStart training, the LRAEF made the ProStart Program Support Fund a high priority.”

The LRAEF, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization, exists to enhance the restaurant community through expanded educational and career opportunities, the formation of strategic partnerships and the elevation of professional standards and practices. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Alice Glenn, aglenn@lra.org or (504) 636-6526.

The LRAEF is grateful to the nine LRA Chapters and its sponsors: 5 Diamond—Acme Oyster House, Auto-Chlor Services, Louisiana Hospitality Foundation, Louisiana Restaurant Association, Louisiana Seafood and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation; 4 Diamond—Performance Foodservice-Caro; 3 Diamond—Atmos Energy, Camellia Brand, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, Louisiana Culinary Institute, New Orleans Wine & Food Experience and Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers; 2 Diamond—Louisiana Gas Association, Whole Foods Market and Chef Paul Prudhomme’s “Sea of Hope.”

Rayne team places third at National ProStart Invitational

Rayne High School's ProStart Management Team takes
third place at the National ProStart Invitational.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) is proud to announce that the Rayne High School ProStart^® Management team placed third in the country at the National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, Maryland on April 30, 2012.

Rayne won the management competition, and the right to represent Louisiana on a national level, at the LRAEF ProStart Student Competition February 29, 2012 in Kenner.

Rayne High School’s team consisted of educator Kandice Dequeant and students Kelsey Burleigh, Sebastian Hebert, Katherine Meche and Andre Rochon.

Competing on a national stage, among 41 teams from across the U.S., Puerto Rico and Guam, Rayne High School’s task was to create a restaurant concept. Their entry was a small plates/ tapas restaurant called Petit Mangeŕ, Jazzy Cajun Tapas, with the tagline, “Small Bites, Big Flavor.” Petit Mangeŕ means “small food” in Cajun French.

LRAEF Executive Director
Alice Glenn travels with the
Rayne and Hammond ProStart
teams as they represent Louisiana
at the National ProStart Invitational.

“The LRAEF is very proud of Rayne’s management team,” said LRAEF Executive Director Alice Glenn. “These young men and women represented Louisiana wonderfully with their talent and creativity. The LRAEF strives to prepare these high school students for a life outside the classroom and I can confidently say that they are a bright part of the future of our industry.”

The mission of the ProStart program and competition is to increase student awareness of careers in the restaurant/foodservice industry and to provide the restaurant industry with a forum to present and recruit ProStart students. Participating students complete a nationally-endorsed, dynamic and comprehensive curriculum which encourages them to learn all aspects of operating and managing a restaurant or foodservice establishment, in school and in structured hands-on worksites.

The LRAEF would like to sincerely thank its ProStart Student Competition Sponsors: Diamond—Auto Chlor Services and the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation; Platinum—Performance Food Group-Caro; Gold—Louisiana Culinary Institute; Silver—Ovations; Friends of ProStart—Mestizo Restaurant and Notini’s Restaurant and Contributing Sponsors—Capitol City Produce, Centerplate, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, Pontchartrain Center and Sysco New Orleans.

The mission of the LRAEF, a 501 (c)3 non-profit organization, is to promote the industry as a career choice to our current and future workforce, offer scholarships and professional development. If you would like to make a donation, please contact Alice Glenn, aglenn@lra.org or (504) 454-2277, ext. 565.