Food Celebrity Chef Jeff Inspires Disadvantaged Students To Follow
Their Dreams
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (Business Wire EON/PRWEB ) December 3, 2008 --
Chef Jeff Henderson, Food Network celebrity and New York Times Best
Selling author, delivered a powerful, motivational speech, Tuesday, to
students at An Achievable Dream Middle and High School about the
importance of getting an education, making the right decisions, and
following their dreams.
An Achievable Dream educates disadvantaged children socially,
academically and morally to become productive citizens. The school’s
nationally-recognized program helps students overcome the difficult
personal challenges they face every day and prepares them to compete on
a level playing field in the world of work.
“I know these kids. I know their thoughts, their fears, the negativity
in their life—because I was in their spot years ago,” said Chef Jeff.
“For me the lure of the street was too strong, I had no dreams and I
felt I had no other options. As I stood in front of these kids today, I
wanted to help them realize that they have great potential – they have
options!”
Chef Jeff has a long history of mentoring disadvantaged youth. In his
Food Network television show “The
Chef Jeff Project” which premiered this fall, he mentors six young
men and women who work as interns at his catering company, Posh Urban
Cuisine, in Los Angeles. They assist Chef Jeff on catering assignments
ranging from high-profile clients like the cast of General Hospital and
the LA Dodgers, to personal meals with Jeff’s family. His reality TV
program is different from others— there are no losers and no one is sent
home. Everyone who completes the internship wins a scholarship to a
culinary institute.
Chef Jeff has become one of the most inspirational chefs in the country
after finding his passion for cooking while incarcerated for ten years
in federal prison for drug trafficking, an experience he credits for
turning his life around. In 2001, Jeff made history in Las Vegas, when
he became the first African-American named “Chef de Cuisine” at Caesar’s
Palace. He eventually became an executive chef at several top
restaurants including Café Bellagio, which he joined in 2004.
Walter S. Segaloff, founder of An
Achievable Dream, said. “We encourage children to attain a vision
and develop a personal, achievable dream that will light the way for
success and joy in life as a productive citizen. Chef Jeff has walked in
their shoes and knows their streets. He has a message the kids can
relate to and respect.”
Chef Jeff’s remarkable story was captured in the New York Times Best
Seller “COOKED” and is now being turned into a major motion picture by
the team that made “The Pursuit of Happiness.” In October 2008, he
launched his first cookbook, “CHEF JEFF COOKS: In the Kitchen with
America’s Inspirational New Culinary Star.”
Rikki Dozier, An Achievable Dream student said, “Chef Jeff’s life is
inspirational, motivational, and will help influence the decisions I
make. He is a great example of a person turning their life around to
live their dream.”
Chef Jeff has partnered with Smithfield
Foods to assist the company in its Helping
Hungry Homes™ tour, Learners
to Leaders™ program, and providing educational
opportunities to disadvantaged students as well as college scholarships
to children and grandchildren of Smithfield employees.
“We are very excited about our partnership with Chef Jeff that focuses
on educating children and feeding families. Chef Jeff has a credibility
that few can match,” said Joseph W. Luter IV, Executive Vice President
of Smithfield Foods. “Drawing on the experiences of his own childhood
and those of a young man growing up on some of the meanest streets in
America, Chef Jeff connects with kids who are looking for a role model
with whom they can identify.
“Smithfield has been a strong local supporter of An Achievable Dream for
many years. The results of their program are unparalleled in the
education system, and we are proud to be making a difference in the
lives of Dreamers,” said Luter.
An
Achievable Dream, Inc. is a public/private partnership between the
business community and Newport News Public Schools. The partnership
operates as a non-profit, year-round, extended day public/private school
borne out of its founder’s belief that all children can learn and
succeed regardless of their socioeconomic backgrounds; and that
education can break the cycle of poverty. An Achievable Dream
successfully educates students socially, academically and morally.
Smithfield
Foods (NYSE: SFD) is a global food company with operations in 13
countries through wholly-owned subsidiaries and joint ventures.
Headquartered in Smithfield, Va., the company produces more than 50
brands of pork and turkey products and more than 200 gourmet foods.
Employing more than 52,000 people around the globe, Smithfield Foods is
the world’s largest producer and processor of pork and a leader in
turkey processing.
MULTIMEDIA GALLERY http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5845494
See the original story at: http://eon.businesswire.com/releases/chef_jeff/achievable_dream/prweb1704194.htm
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