Annual gala has provided more than $2.1 million for scholarships since 2003
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ecolab Inc., a global leader in food safety solutions and expertise,
helped raise more than $200,000 for the National Restaurant Association
Educational Foundation (NRAEF) during the 17th Annual Ecolab Chairman's
Reception, held Sunday, May 19 in conjunction with the National
Restaurant Association Show in Chicago.
The gala was attended by more than 700 restaurant and foodservice
industry leaders in support of the NRAEF ProStart® program, a
nationwide, two-year high school program that unites the classroom and
industry to develop tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice leaders.
“It is great to see so many industry leaders come together for this
event to support the NRAEF and its programs to develop talent and foster
career opportunities within the restaurant industry,” said Ecolab
Chairman and CEO Douglas M. Baker, Jr. “Each year through the ProStart
program, nearly 150,000 students gain the training and hands-on
experience necessary to become the next generation of industry leaders.”
As the event concluded, Baker, Mike Hickey, Ecolab executive vice
president of Special Initiatives and past-chair of the NRAEF board of
trustees, and Chris Loflin, senior vice president of Institutional
Global Corporate Accounts, presented Dawn Sweeney, National Restaurant
Association and NRAEF president and CEO, and Rob Gifford, NRAEF
executive vice president, with a check for $202,825 on behalf of Ecolab
and gala attendees.
“Ecolab’s commitment to the future of the restaurant industry inspires
us every day. From the very beginnings of the National Restaurant
Association Educational Foundation and the ProStart program, Ecolab has
supported our efforts to attract, empower and advance the next
generation of our industry’s workforce,” said Gifford. “They are
incredible partners and we are so grateful for their generosity.”
Ecolab has helped raise more than $2.1 million for the NRAEF and the
ProStart program since the event began in 2003.
About the National Restaurant Association Education Foundation
As
the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s (NRAEF) mission
of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s
training and education, career development and community engagement
efforts.
The NRAEF and its programs work to attract, empower and advance today’s
and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs
include: ProStart – a high-school career and technical education
program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based
organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and
job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women
transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers;
Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant,
foodservice and hospitality degrees; and, the Hospitality Sector
Registered Apprenticeship project – a partnership with the American
Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship
program for the industry. For more information, visit
ChooseRestaurant.org.
About Ecolab
A trusted partner at nearly three million
customer locations, Ecolab (ECL) is the global leader in water, hygiene
and energy technologies and services that protect people and vital
resources. With annual sales of $15 billion and 49,000 associates,
Ecolab delivers comprehensive solutions, data-driven insights and
on-site service to promote safe food, maintain clean environments,
optimize water and energy use and improve operational efficiencies for
customers in the food, healthcare, energy, hospitality and industrial
markets in more than 170 countries around the world. For more news and
information, visit www.ecolab.com.
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Ecolab Media Relations
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