Keep David's Culinary Dream Alive

Let me introduce you to my good friend, David. Like me, and perhaps like many of you reading this, David loves food. He loves food so much, that he made the brave decision to leave his family and home country after finishing culinary school, to study under some talented American chefs. After months of waiting and many legal fees later, he finally received his J-1 visa in Bogotá, Colombia. David said his goodbyes, packed up, and made the big trip north (facing his fear of both heights and flying), and landed here in the Roaring Fork Valley of Colorado.

Thanks to the brave support and sponsorship of a local restauranteur, his culinary career has taken him to the some of the top restaurants of Aspen and Snowmass Village, two world renowned ski resorts with a very prestigious and high-end restaurant scene. David has learned more about food, culture, and community than he ever thought was possible. Perhaps more importantly, he's able to pursue his dream career path in the restaurant business while still being able to support his aging parents back home, a grand feat that simply wouldn't be possible in his native Colombia. It has truly been a dream come true.

Sadly, that dream is unjustly reaching its end. There is still so much more his local culinary community can teach him, and still so much more groundwork to be laid as he begins the launch of his life-long culinary career path. As the primary caretaker for his parents, it's essential to both his and their well-being that he continues working with his mentors and colleagues of the vigorous culinary community.

To extend his J-1 visa, he needs to find $3,500 by July 12th to cover his government and legal fees to extend his visa. Otherwise, he's destined to start again from scratch, looking for more feasible ways to financially support his family, and leave his culinary dreams behind. With your help, we can change that. We can help prove that, in community, dreams can come true.