Recognized for its contribution to the community by improving the lives of others through food
Innovative model now being replicated across the country through Catalyst Kitchens
Seattle, WA (March 19, 2011) – The James Beard Foundation announced yesterday that FareStart, the Seattle-based culinary job training and placement program for homeless and disadvantaged individuals, has been named the 2011 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year Award honoree. This award is given to an individual or organization whose work in the realm of food has improved the lives of others and benefited society at large. FareStart will be honored at this year’s James Beard Foundation Awards, the nation’s most prestigious recognition program honoring professionals in the food and beverage industries, taking place on Monday, May 9, 2011 at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. Seattle-based chef and longtime FareStart supporter, Tom Douglas, will present the award to FareStart at the ceremony.
“The Humanitarian awards recognize passion, inspiration, and a commitment to doing good work that go beyond any individual’s contribution,” said Susan Ungaro, President of the James Beard Foundation. “FareStart is a perfect example of the core values that underlie the James Beard Foundation in action,” she added. “FareStart’s dedicated mission and tireless efforts have created a national platform that provides much-needed opportunities for so many people and raises awareness about the plight of homelessness.”
"The James Beard Humanitarian award is a fantastic honor that we at FareStart are humbled to receive. It has always been our mission to empower homeless and disadvantaged individuals while creating nourishing and excellent food. To be recognized by the food industry is not only exciting, it's a confirmation of something we’ve known all along – the power of community," said FareStart Executive Director, Megan Karch. “For nearly 20 years, FareStart has provided opportunities for more than 5,000 people to transform their lives through culinary job training and placement. By awarding us with this prestigious distinction, it is clear that the James Beard Foundation understands the transformative and community-building power of food.”
For 19 years, FareStart has served more than 4.5 million meals to disadvantaged men, women, and children. In 2010 alone, FareStart provided training opportunities to over 260 people, provided referral services to over 700 homeless individuals, graduated more than 130 individuals and at the same time increased business sales by 10%. More importantly, FareStart’s graduates are getting hired and continuing their education, and last year, more than 80% of adult graduates secured employment while 80% of youth graduates either gained employment or went back to school. 2011 sees FareStart launching several initiatives to further raise awareness and meet the growing needs of the community, continuing to create countless opportunities and impact thousands of lives for the better.
The organization was founded by David Lee, a chef and entrepreneur, who in 1988 recognized the need to provide Seattle’s disadvantaged and homeless populations with healthy and nutritious food. David first launched a for-profit business called Common Meals, and in 1992, after years of working out of small church kitchens, found a kitchen large enough to meet his needs and the needs of the growing homeless population. There, he began to train the very people he was serving, providing homeless individuals with the opportunity to work and to contribute to their own community and FareStart was born.
Education and training to build a better future
FareStart, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has established a variety of training programs that provide invaluable lessons and educational resources to the local population. The Adult Culinary Job Training and Placement Program provide a free 16-week course that includes culinary training, counseling, life-skills classes, housing, food and clothing. Students have the opportunity to give back, beginning their first day by preparing food that’s delivered to local homeless shelters and low-income daycare centers. FareStart’s Graduate Support Services program provides ongoing guidance to adult graduates, including health care assistance, housing, counseling and job searches to help individuals move forward to self-sufficiency. Through a collaborative effort with YouthCare, a Seattle organization dedicated to ending youth homelessness, FareStart launched its Youth Barista Training and Education Program in 2003, offering runaway, homeless and street youth ages 16-23 with on-the-job training, life skills classes, counseling and the opportunity to build a better future for themselves.
Bringing the Success of FareStart to Communities across the Country
In 2010, FareStart established Catalyst Kitchens in 2010, to bring its successful model to communities across the country by network of 125 nonprofits and partner organizations across the nation to help develop programming and find solutions to unemployment and food scarcity. In addition, FareStart’s own businesses have helped to generate over half of the organization’s annual operating revenue. Some of these ventures include Guest Chef Night, during which premier local chefs work with FareStart students to create a gourmet meal at FareStart’s on-site restaurant, with revenue and gratuities directly benefitting the training program. The FareStart Café @ 2100 is the on-the-job training site for the youth program and is open to the public, while FareStart Catering offers services for a variety of occasions and FareStart Contract Meals provides 2,080 meals daily to childcare centers, homeless shelters and seniors.
About The James Beard Foundation Awards
On Monday, March 21, 2011, the The James Beard Foundation will announce the final nominees for all award categories during a press conference at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland, OR. On Monday, May 9, 2011, Tom Colicchio, Ming Tsai and Traci Des Jardins will host the James Beard Foundation Awards Ceremony and Gala Reception at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall in New York City. During the event, awards for the Restaurant and Chef and Restaurant Design and Graphics categories will be handed out, along with special achievement awards including Humanitarian of the Year, Lifetime Achievement, Who’s Who and the America’s Classics award honorees. During the Gala Reception immediately following, top culinary talents from across the country will serve dishes that reflect the nation’s diverse and multi-cultural influences in a nod to this year’s awards theme, “The Ultimate Melting Pot.”
FareStart Mission
FareStart provides a community that transforms lives by empowering homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training, and employment in the food service industry.
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