Will focus on career opportunities for military personnel and veterans.
The National Restaurant Association has launched a new foundation that will help train members of the military and veterans for careers in the foodservice industry. As a result, the NRA's foundation will assume control of the activities and programs associated with the Hennessey Travelers Association Educational Foundation's (HTAEF) Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence.
The Armed Forces Forum for Culinary Excellence program each year brings 25 U.S. Air Force and U.S. Marine servicemen and women to the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone for a week-long educational program to help develop their culinary and foodservice management skills. This year's program will take place November 5-9.
"We have always appreciated the support of the National Restaurant Association, and look forward to passing the torch to the newly formed NRA's Military Foundation to carry on the work previously conducted by our educational foundation," said Dick Hynes, president of the Hennessy Travelers Association. "The personal dedication of NRA board members who have served as Hennessy Travelers will bring a wealth of passion to the NRA's Military Foundation. By leveraging their commitment and industry resources under the umbrella of the NRA, along with long-time Hennessy partners Society for Foodservice Management (SFM) and International Foodservice Executives Association (IFSEA), we are confident that our united efforts will be stronger than ever and will keep growing into the future."
The National Restaurant Association Military Foundation will also promote foodservice and hospitality career opportunities for former servicemen and women and military spouses, and work to provide small business ownership opportunities for military veterans. "We will focus our work on programs that help develop career and ownership opportunities for individuals who have served their country, as well as support military foodservice professionals in developing their culinary and management skills," said Art Myers, National Restaurant Association Military Foundation board member.
The development of the NRA Military Foundation is an extension of the association's long-standing support of the military, including the presentation of the Air Force's John L. Hennessy Award, the U.S. Marine Corp's Major Gen. W.P.T. Hill Award, and the Air National Guard's SMSgt Kenneth Disney Award.
