Emeril Lagasse Foundation Invests More Than $750,000 in Youth Programs Nationwide
Fueling Hands-on Learning and Life Skills for Youth to Build Brighter Futures
Emeril Lagasse Foundation announced today that it has awarded more than $750,000 in grants through its Fall 2025 grant cycle, supporting programs that inspire, mentor, and enable youth across the country. Funding was awarded through the Foundation’s three core program areas: the Community Grants Program, the Foundation’s signature program, Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, and the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund. In total, this funding cycle will support approximately 5,563 youth nationwide.
This cycle also includes ongoing fulfillment of prior commitments to Baltimore Montessori Public Charter School (Baltimore, MD), one of the Foundation’s signature school partners, and to Son of a Saint (New Orleans, LA) for continued support of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation–Son of a Saint Nutrition Education Program.
“Through these investments, we are deepening our support of youth programs that are creating meaningful, hands-on learning experiences for young people,” said Brian Kish, President of Emeril Lagasse Foundation. “Our fall grants strengthen culinary education, expand access to nutrition and family wellness programs, and help youth build the skills and confidence they need to succeed.”
FALL 2025 GRANT RECIPIENTS
Community Grants Program
New Orleans Career Center (NOCC) – New Orleans, LA
Expands the school’s culinary arts program through funding for supplies, uniforms, and a culinary assistant to ensure participation remains free for students.
New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) – New Orleans, LA
Provides two full scholarships for students who have graduated from culinary or hospitality training programs supported by Emeril Lagasse Foundation to complete NOCHI’s six-month culinary or pastry certificate programs.
North Bay Children’s Center (NBCC) – Novato, CA
Supports development of the Garden of Eatin’ Culinary and STEAM Outdoor Classroom, expanding garden-based learning, hands-on cooking, and family engagement programs for early childhood education.
Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA) – Santa Ana, CA
Funds construction of a new culinary teaching garden that connects high school students to the farm-to-table experience through growing, harvesting, and cooking.
St. Lillian Academy – Baton Rouge, LA
Strengthens vocational, gardening, and independent living skills programming for students with communication and learning challenges.
Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) – New Orleans, LA
Supports YEP Enriches afterschool and summer programming that provides academic support, arts, recreation, and social-emotional learning for youth ages 7–16.
Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen – Signature Program
Funding will provide continued programmatic and evaluation support for signature program school sites as they strengthen culinary and garden-based learning and expand family engagement opportunities.
- Belle Chasse Academy – Belle Chasse, LA
- Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy – New Orleans, LA
Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund – Human Services Grants
Napa Valley Education Foundation (NVEF) – Napa, CA
Expands a tuition-free Culinary Career Connection program offering high school students hands-on culinary instruction, nutrition education, and paid mentorships.
Pilot Light – Chicago, IL
Supports expanded food education for high school students through educator training, hands-on cooking experiences, and Spanish-language lesson materials.
The University of Nevada, Reno Foundation – Reno, NV
Enhances the Little Books and Little Cooks bilingual family cooking and literacy program through culturally responsive curriculum updates and recipe development.
Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund – Scholarships
New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) – New Orleans, LA
- Aarón Sánchez Culinary Scholarships (Class of 2026): Provides six young aspiring culinary arts students with full scholarships including tuition, housing, travel, and mentorship.
- Baking & Pastry Arts Certificate Scholarship: Provides tuition assistance for one young person to pursue NOCHI’s Baking & Pastry Arts certificate program.
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. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $23 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 created to enrich 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.