Delaware restaurants partner with educational foundation for ProStart fundraiser Dec. 5
There will be a variety of restaurants donating 10 percent of their profits Monday, Dec. 5, to the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation for an inaugural fundraising event to benefit high school hospitality students. The DRAEF supports culinary and hospitality management training and workforce development in Delaware. The ProStart Program, the cornerstone initiative supported by the DRAEF, currently reaches over 3,000 students in 18 Delaware high schools. ProStart students from local high schools will be showcasing their knowledge and skills in both front and back of house in many of the participating restaurants Dec. 5.
"We're so excited about the Dine Out event, because it's not just a fundraiser...it's a way for those in the community to interact with these amazing students and see the future leaders of our industry at work. This program is so successful because of the wrap-around support Delaware restaurants provide for these students. But it's more than just knife skills; this program provides life skills that they'll take with them wherever they choose to go,” said Carrie Leishman, president and CEO, DRA and DRAEF.
Nationwide, the ProStart Program reaches more than 140,000 students in all 50 states, supported by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and state restaurant associations across the country. The career-building curriculum blends classroom learning with mentored work experience to teach high school students the management, culinary and soft skills needed for entry into the workforce or postsecondary education.
When students meet academic standards, complete a checklist of competencies, and work at least 400 hours in the industry, they are awarded the ProStart National Certificate of Achievement. Sussex County restaurants include: Heirloom, Crooked Hammock Brewery, Striper Bites, Bethany Blues Lewes, Fish On, and Grotto Pizza, all of Lewes; Buffalo Wild Wings, Henlopen City Oyster House, Blue Moon, Summerhouse Saloon, and Big Fish, all in Rehoboth Beach; Catch 54 of Selbyville; and Northeast Seafood Kitchen, Ocean View.
