The Power of Genuine Connection: Inside Bridget Harrell’s Approach to Giving

Few people reflect Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s spirit and values more clearly than board member and longtime supporter Bridget Harrell. She meets every person with respect, compassion, and authenticity, building trust from the very first conversation. Bridget has a remarkable gift for transforming simple interactions into meaningful relationships, creating community wherever she goes. Her leadership is rooted in integrity and a commitment to uplifting others, making her an essential part of our work.

Her journey with the Foundation began unexpectedly in Park City, Utah, when a conversation with winemaker David Long introduced her to the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Throwdown, one of the Foundation’s signature fundraising event weekends held just steps from her Florida home at the time. That meeting opened the door to a community that would become a cornerstone of her philanthropic life.

When she attended Throwdown for the first time, Bridget found herself talking with a woman who would become an instant friend: Alden Lagasse. Within minutes, they discovered they were both Mississippi girls, born just miles apart. “What stayed with me most that night,” Bridget remembers, “was the feeling that I’d made a new friend in Alden.”

This simple, genuine connection set the tone for everything that followed.

A year later, Bridget attended Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s Carnivale du Vin Weekend in New Orleans. It was an experience she describes as transformative. During the fundraising event weekend, a visit to St. Michael Special School – one of the foundation’s longstanding beneficiaries and host of the weekend’s Beneficiary Luncheon – changed everything. “That first trip… you just know you want to be part of it,” she said. For Bridget, it was the moment the mission came alive.

Over the next decade, Bridget’s role grew from attendee to advocate to board member, and today she serves as Treasurer of the Board for Emeril Lagasse Foundation. What stands out to her most is the Foundation’s authenticity and accessibility. “Our impact is great, and what makes the Foundation special is how connected supporters feel,” she said.

“You can pick up the phone and talk to the people who make decisions. There’s no bureaucracy. You truly know where your dollars are going, and that’s because of the incredible team.”

Bridget’s passion for expanding opportunities for young people is reflected in the communities she calls home. In North Carolina, she has seen the Foundation’s investment in the Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington (GLOW) create the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Culinary Lab where students develop culinary skills, strengthen their nutrition knowledge, and grow as leaders.

In South Florida, she has celebrated the growth of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Innovation Kitchen at Arc Broward, where her family honors her father’s legacy through a scholarship and a named chair at the kitchen’s demonstration table. The kitchen provides individuals with disabilities culinary training, workforce development, and community connection.

“Every time I see what they are doing, I feel so proud,” she said.

These projects reflect what Bridget values most: helping young people grow, gain confidence, and access new opportunities. Her dedication to service reaches beyond her work with the Foundation, as she contributes her time and leadership to organizations aligned with her values. No matter the setting, Bridget invests deeply in places where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged to reach their full potential.

As the holiday season invites reflection, Bridget offers a simple call to action. “Look at the return on investment. Look at the impact. When you support the Foundation, you know your dollars are going exactly where they should, directly to the children and programs that need them.”