Rachael Ray's Non-profit Organization Yum-o!

National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) serves as the nonprofit educational arm of the National Restaurant Association and focuses on helping the restaurant and foodservice industry recruit and retain a qualified and diverse workforce. Reflecting Yum-o!'s commitment to fund cooking education and scholarships, Yum-o! and the NRAEF have launched a scholarship initiative aimed at providing funds to high school students committed to pursuing a career in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

The first recipients of the new scholarships were awarded in 2007 to students enrolled in the National Restaurant Association Solutions' ProStart® restaurant and foodservice management program. Since then, the scope of the scholarships has been broadened to any graduating high school senior planning to enroll in a post-secondary foodservice program.

"Through this partnership with Rachael's Yum-o! organization, we hope to aid students pursuing an education in the restaurant and foodservice industry and continue to raise awareness about the wealth of opportunities it offers," says Sue Vogel, director of the NRAEF's Scholarships Program.

The NRAEF's overall Scholarships Program awards $1.7 million annually to high school and undergraduate students and educators committed to furthering their education or professional development in restaurant and foodservice management. The restaurant and foodservice industry is one of the largest employers in the United States with 13.1 million employees, and an additional 2 million positions will be added over the next decade. The NRAEF's programs have proven successful at recruiting and training the workforce needed to meet the industry's growth: 3 out of 4 students who have received an NRAEF scholarship are still studying and/or working in the industry.

"My first job was as a waitress and I find the skills I learned then guiding me to continued success today, in all aspects of my life," says Rachael. "Now, I wear many hats, but my main function remains the same — cooking quality meals and serving my customer. I am so proud to be part of providing the means for kids to have the same opportunities as I did to excel in this industry."