Honoring Leadership and Vision: A Conversation with Emeril Lagasse Foundation Board Member Gary Solomon

At Emeril Lagasse Foundation, we are deeply grateful for the leadership and dedication of our Board of Directors. Their passion and commitment drive our mission to inspire, mentor, and enable youth to reach their full potential. Among these leaders, Gary Solomon stands out—not only as a founding board member but also as the chair of our Grants Committee, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping the Foundation’s long-term vision.

Gary’s journey with the Foundation began through a shared commitment to St. Michael Special School in New Orleans, a place close to both his and Chef Emeril’s hearts. Long before the Foundation was established, Gary was actively involved with the school, and it was through this connection that he and Chef Emeril forged a friendship rooted in a passion for giving back.

“When Emeril and Alden decided to start the Foundation, they came to me because of my experience with nonprofits,” Gary recalls.

“I knew their hearts were in the right place, and I wanted to see them succeed—not just because they’re great friends, but because they truly wanted to make a difference.”

Since the Foundation’s inception, Gary has been a driving force, ensuring that grants and initiatives focus on transformational investments. His leadership has helped shape the Foundation’s approach to philanthropy—emphasizing strategic, high-impact grants that create lasting change.

A key example of this commitment is Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, the Foundation’s signature program. As an early champion of the initiative, Gary has seen how it bridges traditional education with hands-on learning, making academic concepts more engaging and relevant.

“Our goal was always to create something lasting—something that truly reflects the Foundation’s mission,” Gary explains. “This program does exactly that. It’s not just about cooking or gardening; it’s about immersing students in real-world learning that reinforces classroom lessons in a meaningful way.”

Last year alone, we provided 8,493 cooking, gardening, and nutrition education classes nationwide at our school partner sites, allowing students to apply classroom concepts in practical ways while building essential life skills. “This program transforms the way students learn,” he shares.

“Measuring ingredients isn’t just cooking—it’s a math lesson. Observing plant growth becomes a science experiment. Preparing meals fosters teamwork and communication. And most importantly, students develop a deeper understanding of nutrition and how to make healthy choices that will serve them for a lifetime.”

Beyond the classroom, families feel the impact. “It’s not just the students who benefit,” Gary notes. “When kids get excited about cooking and make healthier choices, it influences the entire household. That’s how real change happens—one family at a time.”

In 2024, we engaged more than 14,000 parents, teachers, and family members, many of whom shared how their children’s classroom experiences inspired more family cooking at home. Across our school partner sites, more than 100 family and community events provided families with a firsthand look into their students’ learning.

Gary has witnessed the program’s growing success across multiple school sites, seeing students light up as they engage in culinary and garden education. He believes its structured curriculum and effective implementation make it a model for continued expansion—and that strategic partnerships are essential to reaching even more schools and communities.

“The Foundation has built something extraordinary,” he shares. “We’ve developed a program that is strong, effective, and scalable. The next step is expanding it through partnerships with corporations, foundations, and individuals who see the value of investing in the next generation through food and education.”

Gary is proud of the progress made and energized by the road ahead.

“This model works. The work we do today will have a lasting effect—not only on children’s health but on their confidence, curiosity, and success in school and beyond.”

As we continue to expand Emeril’s Culinary Garden & Teaching Kitchen, we are grateful for leaders like Gary Solomon, whose dedication ensures that more students—and their families—benefit from this innovative approach to learning—one that nurtures their minds, bodies, and futures.