NRAEF

Congratulations to @PolarisCareer students in the Culinary Arts and Restaurant Management program. They placed third in the National ProStart Invitational Culinary Competition!

@prlaorg This is what we love to see! 👏

This is exactly the kind of partnership that makes the Restaurant Ready program so powerful—connecting people who are ready to work with an industry that's ready to welcome them. 🤝 @NRAEF

#WorkforceWednesday spotlight on one of our incredible Restaurant Ready program partners, @ArdellasHouse. Last week, PRLA met with Ardella's House to learn more about the meaningful work their organization is doing in Philadelphia. @NRAEF

@MOEducation Amazing work, students 👏

Missouri students delivered an outstanding performance at the 2026 National ProStart Invitational 🍽️ ✨ Herndon Career Center earned 1st place in the national culinary competition, demonstrating exceptional skill, creativity, and execution. Independence School District also represented Missouri in the management category, highlighting strong business and operational expertise. Missouri’s ProStart program continues to open doors for students, connecting classroom learning with real-world experience in the hospitality industry.

As @NRAEF celebrated 10 years of the apprenticeship program at the NRAEF, we’re proud to kick off 2026 National Apprenticeship Week, honoring the people and programs shaping our workforce under this year’s theme: “America at Work: Making America Skilled Again through Registered Apprenticeship.” 🍽 Throughout the week, we’ll spotlight how Registered Apprenticeships are opening doors, building in-demand skills, and creating meaningful career pathways across the restaurant industry. Follow along as we highlight the stories and impact behind the movement—and see how apprenticeships are strengthening our workforce and powering what’s next. 📸 Julian Garcia, Apprentice, Brider: bit.ly/42rLFC2 📸 Carlos Martinez, Line Cook apprentice, Nashville Marriott at Vanderbilt University, White Lodging: bit.ly/48RNwDP 📸 Patrick Holland, Line Cook Apprentice; Cochon Butcher: bit.ly/4cJZdhd 📸 Angel Collins, Line Cook Apprentice, Harry's Hospitality Group: bit.ly/4e6qtbT

Webinar tomorrow! 💻 Join @NRAEF for Strengthening the Industry: How Apprenticeships Empower Workers and Employers tomorrow afternoon, April 29, at 2 PM ET. Hear from graduates and employer partners on how apprenticeships create career pathways, build stronger teams, and support long-term success in restaurant and hospitality businesses. Can’t attend live? Register anyway to receive the on-demand recording afterwards: bit.ly/41wnces

Congratulations to Blackman High School's Chef Frank Pinnix on being named the 2026 ProStart James M. Maynard Teacher of the Year! This award recognizes a teacher who demonstrates exceptional classroom instruction, innovation in culinary education, strong industry connections for students and a commitment to student career success. ProStart is a national high school program that teaches culinary arts, restaurant management and career-ready skills. Read more here: trst.in/pVck1E

Congratulations to the culinary team at San Dimas High School on winning the California ProStart Cup state competition for the second year in a row! An additional shoutout to the San Dimas High School’s management team for also competing and placing second. You all make CA-31 proud with your achievements. dailybulletin.com/2026/04/17/san…

You can take some student debt off your plate with a NRAEF scholarship. If you are a student pursuing a degree in the restaurant and hospitality industry, APPLY TODAY for up to $10K in scholarship funds! Time is running out — applications close March 15: bit.ly/3P2oeIW

@mctsnj WOW! Congratulations!

What a day! 🥇 Our ProStart Culinary AND Management teams both took home GOLD! So proud of our hardworking Wizards and the passion they brought to the competition! 💙✨ Congratulations!

🖥️ Webinar today! As the skills gap grows across the U.S., industries must adapt to shifting expectations, and the restaurant and hospitality industry continues to offer real opportunity. Join @NRAEF today, Thursday, February 26, for “Bridging the Gap: Investing in the Next Generation of Hospitality Leaders.” Learn more about their Scholarships program and hear directly from recipients on how it’s shaping their careers and the industry’s future. 🔗 Register for free today: bit.ly/4aD8gPR

Did you know that 65% of @NRAEF scholars are first-generation college students? Take some student debt off your plate! If you’re pursuing a degree in the restaurant and hospitality industry, apply today for up to $10,000 in NRAEF scholarship funds! Don’t wait. Applications close March 15: bit.ly/3P2oeIW

Reminder: @NRAEF's Scholarships close Sunday, March 15! Students, this is your chance to apply for up to $10,000 in scholarships for pursuing post-secondary degrees in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry! Apply today: bit.ly/3P2oeIW

Announcing the 2026 National Restaurant Association and @NRAEF Boards! We’re proud to introduce the leaders guiding our industry forward in 2026. Their deep expertise and steady leadership ensure we stay focused on the priorities that matter most for the industry’s long‑term success. The 2026 National Restaurant Association Board includes: Chair: Mike Axiotis – President & CEO, Lehigh Valley Restaurant Brands Vice Chair: Jeanne Cretella – Co-Founder & President, by Landmark Treasurer: Theodore “Teddy” Balestreri – EVP, Hospitality Operations & Community Relations The 2026 National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation Board includes: Chair: Carrie Leishman – President & CEO, @derestaurant & Delaware Restaurant Foundation Vice Chair: Susannah Ryan – Leads National Restaurants, @PepsiCo Foodservice Treasurer: Greg Cocchiarella – Vice President of Industry Relations, @Ecolab Meet the full board: bit.ly/49zdHA5

ProStart educators, are you ready to start 2025 strong? 💪 Join us on Wednesday, January 14 for a full day of educator trainings as you continue to support your students in their culinary careers. Learn more and register at bit.ly/3XJVt80. ✅

This Giving Tuesday, be the missing ingredient that fuels opportunity across the restaurant industry. Your donation to the @NRAEF helps power life-changing programs—from classroom kitchens to real career pathways. 🍽️💙 Help us cook up change together: bit.ly/482sQaZ

@BaldwinSchools Congratulations! 👏

We’re thrilled to announce that The Culinary Arts Academy at Baldwin Prep has been selected for a Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grant! The school is one of just 48 high schools nationwide to receive a $5,000 grant. f #RachaelRayFoundation #prostartgrowgrant #baldwinproud

Opportunity changes everything. A donation to the @NRAEF helps create career pathways in the restaurant and hospitality industry for everyone — from veterans and students to aspiring chefs and hospitality professionals. Be the missing ingredient in someone’s journey: bit.ly/49tIMoZ

.@NRAEF's HOPES program helps justice-involved individuals build meaningful careers and independence through the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industry. 🍽️ Through a Community Collaborative Model, HOPES helps provide training, job placement, and ongoing professional development using the NRAEF’s Restaurant Ready framework. Learn more about how HOPES helps participants turn opportunity into a fresh start: bit.ly/43GGUpa

Check this out! Buffalo Grove High School's ProStart program was featured on WGN's Spotlight Chicago! Junior Alex Greenstein and ProStart Educator Rachel McNamara joined a chef from Moretti's to share more about the program and promote Wheeling's Taste of the Town! 🎥🍽️