2011 Event Profits Donated to Local Organizations

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – On Wednesday, October 25^th the Board of Directors of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience will announce the fifteen local organizations to receive profits from the 2011 event to support their programs and foundations.  The check presentation will take place at 5:00 pm at the Second Harvest Food Bank “Harvest the Music” concert at Lafayette Square.  The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience, which is a non-profit organization, hosts an annual multi-day event featuring culinary seminars and demonstrations, an exclusive wine auction, vintner dinners and wine tastings presented by leaders in the New Orleans and national wine and food community.  “We are proud that the money raised during our events stays right here in our community, helping our hometown,” states Mary Beth Romig, 2012 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience Board President.  The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is honored to distribute much needed funding to the following organizations dedicated to our local community:

The University of New Orleans, School of Hotel, Restaurant & Tourism Program provides students with the foremost in hospitality and tourism education, which involves individual growth and leadership skills, and professional knowledge of the hospitality and tourism industry.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation's ProStart Program is a two-year, culinary arts and restaurant management program for high school juniors and seniors interested in pursuing a career in the restaurant industry.

Delgado Culinary Arts School is one of Delgado's premier programs: training students for careers in the food services and restaurant industry.

NOLA Pay it Forward Fund was created to assist the victims of the floodwaters of the Mississippi River and those negatively impacted by the opening of the Morganza spillway in the Atchafalaya River Basin.  The fund helps with relief and long-term rebuilding efforts.

The John Folse Culinary Institute is dedicated to the preservation and advancement of Louisiana's rich culinary heritage.  The donation from the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience funds a scholarship for top culinary students to travel to the Bocuse Institute in France, where they receive hands-on experience in the French roots of Louisiana culinary traditions.   

New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA) is Louisiana’s high school conservatory. NOCCA’s Culinary Arts Program offers an intensive summer program for young artist/chefs in collaboration with the Emeril Lagasse Foundation and Johnson & Wales University. NOCCA is developing a four-year Culinary Arts high school curriculum to be taught via NOCCA’s master apprentice tradition.

Louisiana Hospitality Foundation facilitates the efforts of the hospitality industry to improve greater New Orleans in a variety of ways and to provide support for the education, health and social welfare of children in the community. The Foundation works to focus the combined strength of the Louisiana hospitality industry, maximizing its ability to measurably improve the communities it serves, by offering greater access to culinary education and arts, community outreach, hospitality industry financial assistance and benevolence.

Cancer Crusaders assists in the fulfillment of its purpose of raising funds for cancer research in the Greater New Orleans area.  Proceeds are divided equally between the Tulane Cancer Center and LSU's Stanley S. Scott Cancer Center for the express purpose of cancer research.

Girls First is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing sport and movement opportunities to underserved girls in the New Orleans metropolitan area.

Southern Animal Foundation (SAF) is a full service, non-profit animal hospital and adoption/rescue agency. SAF rescues and treats companion animals from all over our state, as well as Mississippi. The mission of SAF is to eliminate the need for euthanasia as a means to control the epidemic of animal overpopulation in the greater New Orleans and surrounding areas.  Additionally, SAF is committed to eliminating the cycle of animal abuse through education.

Coach Sean Payton's Play It Forward Foundation strives to improve the lives of families and children in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Texas, in the areas of health, education and social welfare.

Fore!Kids Foundation has helped to raise over $17 million to date, providing healthcare, education and hope for more than 200,000 kids each year.

Roots of Music is a music education program that fills a void in New Orleans educational institutions.  The program provides music education in history, theory, instrumental instruction and ensemble performance to 100 students.  The program offers educational tutoring and a hot meal, along with the musical instruction.

Girls on the Run is a non-profit prevention program that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running. The curricula address all aspects of girl’s development – physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual well-being.

Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Foundation is a non-profit public, charitable foundation.  The Foundation was formed to provide a means for individuals and corporations to become partners with the Department and Commission in the challenge of conserving Louisiana’s wildlife and fish resources. The goals of the Foundation include habitat conservation, environmental education and training, natural resource research and management, and general financial assistance to the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries programs and projects, such that it may better serve the public.

Romig is also happy to announce dates for the 20^th Anniversary event have been finalized for May 22 - 26, 2012. 

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience 2012 will be held May 22-26, 2012. For additional press information, including downloadable images, contact Liz Bodet 504.583.5550, egoliwas@bellsouth.net or visit the media center at www.nowfe.com.