California Restaurant Association Foundation Inc

TO PROVIDE EVERY STUDENT IN CA ACCESS TO PURSUE A CAREER & EDUCATION IN THE FOOD SERVICE INDUSTRY.

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE THROUGH SCHOLARSHIPS FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED IN THE RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY INDUSTRIES.

CREATE A BRAND OF EXCELLENCE IN TRAINING FOR HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY JOBS BY SUPPORTING PROSTART PROGRAMS THROUGH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA IN HIGH SCHOOLS. TO CREATE A NEW GENERATION OF RESTAURATEURS BY FUELING A DESIRE IN YOUNG PEOPLE TO ENTER THE RESTAURANT COMMUNITY.NATIONALLY, PROSTART IS RECOGNIZED AS THE INDUSTRY-BACKED TRAINING FOR HIGH SCHOOL CULINARY ARTS PROGRAMS. THE CALIFORNIA RESTAURANT FOUNDATION PROVIDES CULINARY AND HOSPITALITY TRAINING AND CAREER OPPORTUNITIES TO THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS IN PUBLIC HIGH SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE. PROSTART'S JOB READINESS TRAINING BRIDGES THE GAP BETWEEN EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT. THIS BRIDGE IS CRITICAL FOR YOUTH FROM ALL BACKGROUNDS, BUT ESPECIALLY FOR THOSE WHO ARE FIRST GENERATION COLLEGE BOUND AND LOW-INCOME. VOCATIONAL TRAINING (ALSO KNOWN AS CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION CTE) PROGRAMS PROVIDE PRACTICAL SKILLS THAT ARE DIRECTLY TRANSFERABLE TO VARIOUS INDUSTRIES, INCLUDING TIME MANAGEMENT, TEAMWORK AND COLLABORATION, AND CREATIVE THINKING. THESE BENEFITS ARE CRITICAL FOR THE STUDENTS WE SERVE. PROSTART ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO DEVELOP THEIR UNIQUE PASSIONS, INTERESTS, AND ABILITIES, WHETHER THAT'S IN THE CULINARY ARTS AND HOSPITALITY, OR ANOTHER FIELD ENTIRELY. WHILE WE HOPE TO INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION OF PASSIONATE FOOD SERVICE PROFESSIONALS, WE ARE MORE FOCUSED ON REMINDING STUDENTS EARLY (STARTING IN 9TH GRADE) AND OFTEN (THROUGHOUT ALL FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL) THAT THEY CAN DO ANYTHING THEY SET THEIR MINDS TO. WHEN INCOME DOES NOT DETERMINE WHAT OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE TO OUR YOUTH, THE WORLD BECOMES MORE EQUITABLE AND THE POSSIBILITIES FOR SUCCESS ARE ENDLESS. CRF SUPPORTS TOMORROW'S CULINARY TALENT AND RESTAURANT BUSINESS LEADERS AND PROMOTES WORKFORCE ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS.IN ADDITION, OUT OF TWENTY CURRENT 9TH GRADERS, SIX WILL DROP OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL, SIX WILL GO DIRECTLY TO WORK AFTER HIGH SCHOOL AND EIGHT WILL BECOME COLLEGE FRESHMEN. DROPPING OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL IS RELATED TO A NUMBER OF NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. DROPOUTS ARE LESS LIKELY TO BE IN THE LABOR FORCE THAN THOSE WITH A HIGH SCHOOL CREDENTIAL. STUDENTS ARE MOTIVATED TO STAY IN SCHOOL AND GRADUATE BECAUSE: THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE; THEY WANT TO HAVE A GOOD JOB; THEY WANT TO ATTEND COLLEGE; AND, THEY WANT TO BE GOOD ROLE MODELS FOR THEIR PARENTS AND SIBLINGS. THE PROSTART PROGRAM OF CRF IS DESIGNED TO CAPTURE THE INTEREST AND ENGAGE THE MINDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO MIGHT OTHERWISE BE STRUGGLING STAYING IN SCHOOL. LEARNING THE CULINARY AND MANAGEMENT SKILLS TAUGHT BY OUR PROSTART CLASS PROVIDES PRACTICAL SKILLS FOR SUCCESS.CRF SERVES 140 PROSTART PROGRAMS WITH 13,500 STUDENTS. 50% OF PROSTART STUDENTS SURVEYED SAID PROSTART IS A MAJOR REASON WHY THEY COME TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY. 91% OF PROSTART STUDENTS CREDIT PROSTART FOR TEACHING THEM JOB READINESS SKILLS. THROUGH CRF/PROSTART EVENTS 73% OF STUDENTS FEEL BETTER PREPARED TO APPLY FOR COLLEGE AND 36% ARE MORE LIKELY TO STUDY HOSPITALITY MANAGEMENT/CULINARY.

RESTAURANTS CARE LAUNCHED IN 2017 TO PROVIDE RELEIF GRANTS TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS FACING UNFORSEEN HARDSHIP. BY HELPING WITH GRANTS FOR BASIC NEEDS DUE TO INJURY, ILLNESS, ACCIDENT, FAMILY DEATH OR NATURAL DISASTER, CRF UNITES THE INDUSTRY TO AWARD CRISIS GRANTS TO MEMBERS OF CALIFORNIA'S RESTAURANT AND HOSPITALITY COMMUNITY. CRF PROVIDES A SUPPORT NETWORK OF RESOURCES FOR ADDITIONAL ASSISTANCE TO FOOD AND BEVERAGE WORKERS. RESTAURANTS CARE IS A SAFETY NET FOR THOSE AT THE HEART OF RESTAURANTS AND FOODSERVICE. IN 2021 CRF EXPANDED RESTAURANTS CARE TO PROVIDE RESILIENCE GRANTS TO SMALL INDEPENDENT RESTAURANTS WITH A PRIORITY GIVEN TO PEOPLE OF COLOR AND WOMEN-OWNED RESTAURANTS. SINCE 2017 RESTAURANTS CARE HAS AWARDED 2200 GRANTS TO INVIVIDUALS AND SINCE 2021 THROUGH THE RESILIENCE FUND 1325 RESTAURANTS HAVE RECEIVED GRANTS.