It is our great pleasure to announce that the JPF has selected two graduates of JPF-supported culinary training programs to receive a 2025 JPF Memorial Grant of $5,000 each to continue their culinary journeys. Congratulations to the winners and their respective programs!
Pictured above: Rosa L. Vicioso Gonzalez, graduate of Forge City Works in Hartford, CT and Jamel Woods, graduate of Project Renewal in New York, NY
Winner 2025 Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant
Rosa L. Vicioso Gonzalez, graduate of Forge City Works in Hartford, CT
Growing up in the Dominican Republic, Rosa always enjoyed cooking, eating, and preparing food for others. During the pandemic, she decided to take that passion and pursue a future in the culinary industry. Throughout her training, Rosa demonstrated a knack for learning new skills, and she showed a willingness to jump into extracurricular tasks and events. She took advantage of all the opportunities offered by Forge City Works, advocating for herself and taking an active role in her learning and her future. She wanted to travel and, with guidance from the program team, she applied and was accepted for the August 2025 class of the Disney Culinary College Program.
This grant will ensure Rosa can support herself with the travel expenses and cost of living as she takes her next steps. It will allow her to focus on honing her craft and becoming the culinary professional she is meant to be.
“Receiving the Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant reminds me that my story and dreams matter. My long-term goal is to become a professional chef and eventually open my own business—something that reflects my culture and values hard work, great food, and community. I want to create a space where people feel at home, and where I can continue learning and growing in this industry. Thank you to the JPF team for believing in me and for supporting culinary education with such heart.”
Rosa Vicioso Gonzalez
Winner 2025 Carl Robert “Bob” Wesen Memorial Grant
Jamel Woods, graduate of Project Renewal in New York, NY
Jamel Woods was born in Brooklyn to a single mother and has three older sisters. At the age of 22, he was incarcerated and sentenced to 5 years in prison. Upon his release, he attended and graduated from Project Renewal’s Culinary Arts Training Program. He is now a Sous Chef at Project Renewal’s social enterprise City Beet Kitchens where he provides meals for community programs and companies around New York City. Jamel is not only a dedicated, passionate chef but he is a true leader and serves as a model for his peers. Jamel is enrolled in an online course at the Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts and he is working diligently towards his goal of becoming an Executive Chef.
“I am super excited about winning this grant. It showed me that anything is possible when you go for it and keep faith. I plan on using this grant to help me pay for school. Thanks to everyone who played a role in helping me achieve my small, yet huge, goal.”
Jamel Woods
Two additional individuals were also selected to receive runner-up gifts of $2,500 each:
Pictured above: Aryana Offutt, graduate of Genesis Center’s Culinary Hub of Providence (CHOP), Providence RI and Zohal Azizi (right), graduate of Project Feast, Kent, WA
Runner-Up 2025 Gloria Pepin Memorial Grant
Aryana Offutt, graduate of Genesis Center’s Culinary Hub of Providence (CHOP), Providence RI
Aryana was a model Genesis Center CHOP culinary student and is a professional driven with an insatiable desire to continue learning as she works her way up in the workforce. Aryana has an innate ability to combine cutting-edge culinary techniques with flavors passed down to her from her experience working in her family’s African restaurants. She is working to establish herself as an African fine dining restaurateur. She is a perfect example of why Genesis and CHOP exists, and she embodies all that the Gloria Pépin Memorial Grant represents.
“After high school, I went to college for political science and planned on going to law school. But after graduation, I worked in my family’s café and realized my true passion is cooking. Receiving this grant will provide me with the resources necessary to develop and test recipes and start my entrepreneurial career in earnest.”
Aryana Offutt
Runner-Up 2025 Carl Robert “Bob” Wesen Memorial Grant
Zohal Azizi, graduate of Project Feast, Kent, WA
A refugee from Afghanistan, Zohal arrived in Washington state with her husband and three young children. She did not speak English, had no experience driving, and her past teaching experience was not transferable. Despite those obstacles, she was determined to help support her family and knew her passion for cooking could be a path toward financial security. As a graduate of Project Feast, Zohal not only acquired the skills and confidence to secure a culinary position at Hilton DoubleTree Sea Tac, but she also supported her Afghan classmates’ experience through her strengths as a teacher.
“I want to express how much this award has inspired me to believe in the value of hard work and my ability to create meaningful change through my culinary journey. It brings me one step closer to realizing my dream of starting a small catering business, an opportunity that will not only help me become self-sufficient but also provide meaningful employment for other women in my community. ”
Zohal Azizi
