NEW ORLEANS WINE AND FOOD EXPERIENCE DONATES PROFITS TO LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – The Board of Directors of the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is proud to announce that eleven local organizations have received profits from the 2010 event to support their programs and foundations.  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 pleased to say that profits from our event stay right here in our community,” states Octavio Mantilla, 2010 New Orleans Wine & Food Experience Board President.  The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience is proud to distribute much needed funding to the following organizations dedicated to our local community:

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

In addition, Catholic Charities, Archdiocese of New Orleans was the beneficiary of a special NOWFE affiliated fundraising dinner held at Restaurant August at the conclusion of the 2010 NOWFE event.  “The livelihood of our fishermen and their families was greatly impacted by the Gulf oil spill and Catholic Charities provided immediate assistance to the fishing community,” states Mantilla.  “There was an overwhelming number of people wanting to support them, and the best way we knew how was through food.  The charity dinner brought in over $30,000 for Catholic Charities’ efforts.” Catholic Charities provides services for the fishermen of the impacted communities including food vouchers, case management services, financial assistance and boxes of food and other items, in addition to it’s 45 other programs available to the hundreds of thousands of Southeast Louisiana residents in need.
Plans for the 2011 event have been finalized for May 25-28, 2011.

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience 2011 will be held May 25-28, 2011. 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.