My son is currently studying at the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, one of the most respected culinary schools in the world.

This week, he sent me a video of the lunch his group prepared for the school - not practice food, not theory - but real, professional-level dishes cooked under the pressure, standards, and mentorship of CIA chefs. It was stunning.

CIA isn’t just teaching recipes. They are teaching:

• the history of cuisine

• discipline and teamwork

• how food connects culture, agriculture, and community

• how to cook with intention, respect, and rigor

One of the instructors recently shared a video explaining where culinary tradition comes from -and why it matters. Watching my son learn inside that lineage feels like watching him step into something timeless.

But educating our youth in America costs a great deal and Culinary school at this level while extraordinary is also expensive.

Tuition, housing, tools, uniforms, books, and living costs have added up quickly. While we are doing everything we can, we are reaching out to our community to help support this chapter of his education.

Every contribution - whether large or small - directly supports:

• tuition, housing and fees

• required tools and equipment

• daily living costs while he trains full-time

You’re not just helping pay for school.

You’re investing in a young chef who is learning how to feed people - thoughtfully, skillfully, and with heart.

Thank you for believing in craft, education, and the power of food.

We are deeply grateful.