Emeril Lagasse Foundation Expands National Impact with Over $1,000,000 to Support Youth
Strengthening Experiential Learning, Nutrition Education, & Youth Development Programs
Emeril Lagasse Foundation announces more than $1,000,000 through its Spring 2026 Grant Cycle, advancing initiatives that create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential. Investments include support through the Foundation’s signature program, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, and awards through the Community Grants Program. In addition, the Foundation provided support to organizations benefiting from its signature fundraising events. In total, this cycle will support approximately 32,301 youth nationwide.
This cycle also includes ongoing fulfillment of a prior commitment to New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) (New Orleans, LA) for continued support of its Culinary Arts Department programming.
“We are creating impactful, hands-on opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and succeed,” said Brian Kish, President of Emeril Lagasse Foundation. “This investment will empower youth with the tools and confidence to thrive through expanding culinary education, increasing access to nutritious foods, and developing life skills.”
SPRING 2026 BENEFICIARIES
Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen – Signature Program
DC Bilingual Public Charter School – Washington, DC
Provides continued program support to strengthen culinary and garden-based learning, as well as expand community engagement activities, including Family Food Markets, wellness initiatives, and direct support for families.
Pajaro Valley Unified School District (PVUSD) – Watsonville, CA
Expands the reach of Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen programming beyond the Foundation’s school partner site at Starlight Elementary through the Cultivator Grant, bringing hands-on cooking and gardening education, field trips, and family engagement activities featuring locally grown produce to four elementary schools and one middle school across the district.
Community Grants Program
Covenant House – New Orleans, LA
Supports daily hot meals and snacks for young people and families experiencing homelessness by providing nutritious, culturally responsive options that promote wellness, dignity, and a sense of belonging.
Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) – Niceville, FL
Strengthens child abuse prevention and advocacy programming by helping identify and address food insecurity and other urgent family needs during initial case assessments.
Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) – Metairie, LA
Expands ProStart culinary education opportunities through teacher training, student programming, certification support, ProStart Student Nights around Louisiana, and apprenticeships that prepare students for careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana – New Orleans, LA
Supports the Summer Feeding and Kids Café Programs, which will provide 375,000 nutritious meals and snacks to 7,500 children during the summer and after school.
Organizations Supported Through Signature Fundraising Events
Proceeds from Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s signature fundraising events help strengthen the work of nonprofit organizations serving youth and families in local communities. Support through the Foundation’s 2026 event-related giving includes the following organizations:
Line, Vine & Dine Beneficiaries
- Arc Broward – Sunrise, FL
- Dan Marino Foundation – Fort Lauderdale, FL
Throwdown Beneficiaries
- Alaqua Animal Refuge – Freeport, FL
- Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center (ECCAC) – Niceville, FL
- Food for Thought (FFT) – Santa Rosa Beach & Destin, FL
- Sinfonia Gulf Coast – Destin, FL
About Emeril Lagasse Foundation
Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife, Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501(c)(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. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $24 million to children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition, and arts programs. The Foundation accomplishes this through three programs. The Community Grants program provides programmatic and capital support to nonprofit organizations across the nation. The signature program, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, is a national education initiative that enriches the lives of elementary- and middle-school children through a fun, fresh perspective on food. The Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund provides culinary arts education and human services programming for Latino youth. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit emeril.org, or follow on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Instagram.
