2024 Annual Report

Letter from the Executive Director

As we reflect on the past year at the Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF), I am filled with immense gratitude for the vibrant community that has come together to champion our mission. Whether you joined us at a benefit dinner, engaged with our video resources, became a member, or supported our work in countless other ways, your generosity and belief in our vision have been truly inspiring.

This year, we've continued to teach and inspire people to cook and expanded our efforts to make culinary education accessible to all. Through our community kitchen support program, we empowered The Catalyst Kitchen Network and community kitchen partner organizations to teach aspiring chefs essential culinary and life skills, opening doors to employment opportunity and personal fulfillment.

Our free video resources, available on our website, social media platforms and YouTube provide an essential bridge to knowledge, offering individual home cooks the opportunity to learn from expert instruction, develop confidence, and create meaningful connections through food, bringing people together in the kitchen and at the table. The JPF resources, including our ever-growing video library, offer invaluable lessons that equip individuals with practical culinary skills and inspire a lifelong love of cooking.

Our membership program plays a vital role in sustaining our efforts and creating a true sense of community that spans the nation. Members take an active role, ensuring more people have access to the tools they need to succeed. JPF members are the catalyst for bringing families and people together. The JPF membership is inviting and interactive with access to hundreds of video recipes and techniques to help provide wholesome meals that promote well-being.

In celebration of Jacques Pépin's upcoming 90th birthday, we launched the 90/90 Celebration Campaign. This inspiring initiative invites supporters to honor Jacques' lifelong dedication to culinary education, by attending one of the 90 chef-hosted events, or by hosting their own home cook fundraising celebration! Our community has embraced this opportunity with enthusiasm, embodying Jacques' spirit of warmth, hospitality, and a deep commitment to making culinary education accessible to all.

We are proud of the strides we've made, but we know there is more to do. The JPF is not just about providing resources; it is about building a supportive and inclusive community where everyone has a seat at the table.

The need for accessible culinary education, leading to professional training has never been greater for the food service industry. We aim to provide more culinary education tools and resources, to more community kitchens to support more individuals with barriers to employment to find meaningful work.

We invite you to join us in our 90/90 Celebration Campaign by attending a benefit dinner, hosting a dinner in your home, or becoming a commemorative 90/90 Member, and contributing to initiatives that have transformed lives.

On behalf of our Board of Directors, our team, and our partners, thank you for being part of our journey. Together, we create opportunities, empower individuals, and make a lasting impact—ensuring everyone has a seat at the table.

With gratitude,

Rollie Wesen, Executive Director

My father and I are very grateful for the exceptional support we have received for the Jacques Pépin Foundation.

Supporters are a vital part of our journey, and thanks to all of you, our ability to continue bringing culinary skills, hope, and opportunity to others has grown beyond what we could have imagined.

This Annual Report will show you all that we've accomplished together in 2024. I am immensely proud of both the work our team accomplished this past year, as well as the growth of the shared community we are creating with you, where everyone has a seat at the table.

Your kindness, generosity, and belief in our mission inspire us and we feel so fortunate to have you with us. Thank you for believing in our shared vision of empowering people through the power of culinary education.

Claudine Pépin, President

Jacques Pépin

Jacques Pépin has dedicated the majority of his career to teaching technique. His own journey began as a child in his mother's restaurant in Lyon and led him to Paris and the service of French Presidents, then to New York and the restaurant Le Pavillon. His talent, energy, and charm ingratiated him with America's most influential culinarians: James Beard, Helen McCully, Craig Claiborne, and Julia Child.

The Foundation was formed in June 2016 by Jacques and his closest family to translate his inspirational love of cooking, mastery of classic technique, and his renowned teaching ability into action that supports the teaching of culinary skills through various channels to many communities.

Power of Community: The JPF Grants Review Committee

Since we started our grants program in 2019, we have granted over $1.6M to over 70 highly regarded and effective organizations nationwide. We couldn't do it without the time and talents of the volunteers on our Grant Reading Committee, who read through countless pages of proposals.

Here is what one member of our Committee has to say about her experience:

“Thank you for having me on the JPF Grants Reading Committee and giving me the opportunity to see how the JPF sets up its criteria for awards and how the application process works for the applicants. Jacques is the foremost teacher and a great artist who loves humanity. Each step he takes reflects these qualities, and so does the Foundation that bears his name. I am so grateful to be a volunteer part of this great organization that benefits so many!” Reni, New York

Collective Impact: Beyond the Check

A JPF Principal Grant acts as a force multiplier, raising visibility for the organization, attracting press and local recognition for their work, and providing additional opportunities for fundraising. Here's what each JPF Principal Grant recipient organization receives in addition to $10,000 in funding:

• JPF-branded “We Are All Equal in the Eyes of the Stove” aprons for program participants
• An invitation to submit a cooking video for the JPF Members Video Recipe Book, Cook with Jacques Pépin & Friends
• Lifetime JPF Group Membership
• Inclusion in the JPF's grant announcement for national press and a dedicated press release in local markets
• Social media and newsletter features
• Providing full access to hundreds of recipes and technique videos

“Truth be told, every time we put the aprons around the necks of our students at their celebratory student chef luncheon, my heart bursts with joy.” Julie Price, ED Arc Broward

Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant

Tashe Mattison, graduate of Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, NJ

Tashe Mattison showed remarkable resilience in overcoming homelessness to enroll in the Culinary Arts Training Class at Cathedral Kitchen, where her natural talent and leadership made her an outstanding student. Tashe is now a pivotal member of the training program — she was hired as the Assistant Chef Instructor — and she has plans to launch her own catering and juice business.

“I started cooking at the age of 7 and have loved it ever since. The culinary training program at Cathedral Kitchen did more than change my life. It taught me that you never stop learning. With this award, I will obtain an LLC for my catering business, bulk up my supplies to boost the success of that business and start the process of bringing some of my homemade juices to market. I see my journey as a cycle of success. I am like a tree that is growing and branching out into the community to help others use food to change lives.” Tashe Mattison

Carl Robert “Bob” Wesen Memorial Grant

Olvin Cortes, graduate of Foodlink in Rochester, NY

Olvin Cortes' love of food and service, combined with his pursuit of self-improvement, made him an exceptional student when he joined Foodlink as an apprentice. Although he came to the program fighting his own battles with addiction and the criminal justice system, it became clear that Olvin was a natural leader and was very gifted in the kitchen. Upon finishing his Foodlink Fellowship, he was offered a full-time job at a highly regarded country club and has since moved on from there to be Banquet Chef at the Strathallan Hotel & Spa in Rochester, NY.

“I'm speechless and overwhelmed with joy to receive this award. I am humbled and proud to represent the Foodlink Career Fellowship for this honor, and really want to put this gift to good use to help feed my neighbors in the Rochester community. I sincerely hope my story inspires others. Just when you think you are lost in the abyss, never stop looking for the light and see what you can achieve.” Olvin Cortes

Runner-Up Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant

Aminata Dabo, graduate of Emma's Torch, Brooklyn, NY

Growing up in Senegal, West Africa, Aminata Dabo learned that family meals were cherished moments and she embraced cooking for her family when they moved to the United States. At Emma's Torch, Aminata was a model trainee as she learned cooking fundamentals, including knife skills, meat prep and baking. When she completed the program, she was placed into a job at Five Acres Restaurant where she has worked her way up from prep cook to lead cook. She serves on the Emma's Torch Alumni Council, helping to better the program and showcasing her belief that cooking is a fulfilling journey of discovery and camaraderie.

“Receiving this grant means the world to me. With this award, I plan to continue my culinary education and finally buy the kitchen equipment I've always dreamed of. This will help me get closer to my dream of becoming a top chef. I'm overwhelmed with gratitude and excitement for this incredible opportunity. Thank you so much for believing in me and helping make my dreams a reality. I will forever be grateful for this support.” Aminata Dabo

Runner-Up Carl Robert “Bob” Wesen Memorial Grant

Chris Maruri, graduate of Youth Action Youth Build Good Food Jobs Training Program, New York, NY

Chris Maruri's journey embodies resilience, passion, and commitment. Despite challenges, his love for cooking remained steadfast since age 9 and is his driving force. In the kitchen, Chris finds solace, creativity, and purpose. Chris' commitment extends beyond cooking — it encompasses his community. He gives back through volunteering and showcasing his unwavering dedication to making a difference. Chris embodies the belief that with determination and a love for what you do, any obstacle can be overcome, and dreams can be realized.

“I'm grateful to receive this grant that will help me pursue my cooking career. I am very interested in starting a catering business of my own and was inspired by my best friend and potential future business partner Kayla Perez who is in the process of launching her Spiritual Kitchen catering business. I would also like to thank my mom Jackie, my father Mario and my sister Esmeralda for supporting me in all my dreams and future goals.” Chris Maruri