Making a Difference

Rollie Wesen at Columbia Business School with Professor, Ross Goldenberg

Rollie Wesen invited to speak at Columbia Business School

March 27, 2024

On March 27, JPF Executive Director, Dr. Rollie Wesen was invited to speak at Columbia Business School as part of a case study exercise. JPF supporter, friend and adjunct Professor, Ross Goldenberg, invited Rollie to present the JPF to the class as a subject for “Growth Hacking.” The students were tasked with developing proposals that would address a general food literacy challenge: “To inspire more people to learn and want to cook from scratch”.

Back row: Jurgen David, Herve Malivert, Marc Bauer, Rick Smilow, Richard Simpson, Marcus Samuelsson; Middle row: Cesare Casella, Jacques Pépin, Jacques Torres, Gail Simmoms; Front row: Daniel Boulud, Claudine Pépin (Photo by Ken Goodman)

Celebrating Culinary Education

March 13, 2024

Last week, Jacques, Claudine, and Rollie attended “Technique, Taste & Tradition: The Institute of Culinary Education’s Celebration of the Legacy of The French Culinary Institute” (FCI) in New York City. It was a festive reunion of culinary luminaries, including former FCI chefs, deans, staff, and alumni, with remarks from Rick Smilow, Richard Simpson, Leland Clark, Lee Anne Wong, and of course, Jacques and Claudine Pepin.

Catalyst Kitchens team, Justin Smith (Executive Director), Benita Brisco (Director of Development), and Dina Altieri (Director of Education & Training)

Catalyst Kitchens Northeast Regional Summit

This week, JPF staff were treated to two days of inspirational programming at JPF grantee DC Central Kitchen for the Catalyst Kitchens Northeast Regional Summit. The JPF is proud to support the fine work of the Catalyst Kitchens members (many of them also JPF grantees), and it was thrilling to see so many familiar faces out of their Zoom boxes and in the beautiful facility at DCCK!

Culinary students from New England Culinary Arts Training in the kitchen

JPF 2023 Annual Report Now Available

February 27, 2024

The JPF 2023 Annual Report is now live on our website! The report features a letter from Executive Director Rollie Wesen with a teaser of our big announcement to be made at the Gala, a timeline of what 2023 looked like for the JPF and our grantees, a summary of the funding that we distributed in 2023 and an introduction to every one of 2023’s 15 Principal Grant Awardees and our first ever Partnership Circle Grant Awardee.

Request for Proposals

February 15, 2024

The JPF has now officially opened applications for our 2024 grant cycle! Applications are welcome from existing nonprofits for general operation costs OR specific projects to enhance a culinary training program. Grant proposals may include general operating costs, costs for membership fees to join a community kitchen network, funds to improve facilities, expand programming, directly improve teaching, add certifications, support alumni, or expand or improve upon employer partnerships.