Here’s what I like most about my job: spreading the word about organizations that support Dallas and put their blood, sweat, and tears into making our city a better place to live. The GDRA (Greater Dallas Restaurant Association) is holding a pop up fundraiser on Sunday, June 3, from 6 to 9 p.m. in order to raise money for over 30 high schools in the area that teach TXProStart, a two year culinary/hospitality arts program for students interested in culinary arts and restaurant management.
Teachers like Faye Blackmon from Duncanville High School have inspired countless kids to enter the restaurant industry, armed with knowledge and passion. I personally witnessed the kind of transformation these culinary programs have on our youth when I spent three hours at Duncanville High School, admiring these high school students’ skills as I watched them prepare complicated dishes for the ProStart competition.
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Tracy Evers, GRDA’s Executive Director, writes, “At the GDRA we have a tremendous scholarship program, this year awarding over $80.000 to students graduating from TX ProStart schools and going on to two or four year post secondary programs related to hospitality. But what we’re seeing more and more of is that because of the state budget problems, the school districts aren’t able to support these programs – equipment, teacher continuing education, travel for culinary teams to compete, etc… so we are creating our own fund in order to help these teachers and their programs.”
The event will have a chef auction in which local chefs like Brian Luscher (Grape), Janice Provost and Chad Houser (Parigi), Jack Perkins (Maple and Motor), and Abraham Salum (Komali) will be offering their services in special auction packages. Enjoy specialty cocktails, wine, beer, and hors d’oeuvres from Wolfgang Puck Catering for $60 per person. Get your tickets here after you watch the video and feel like putting your money towards helping Dallas kids.
