Comments (0) | Add a comment
Group helps out with tools for school
-
Courtesy Photo
This year's Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas scholarship recipients are, top row from left, Ciro Fodera, Beatriz Portillo, Mercedes Sanchez, Alexandra Fiala, Sevasti Paschalis and Jeremy Sabine and, bottom row from left, Erika Sandoval, Emily Hewett, Wendy Pimentel and Melissa Reyna.
Tools
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Embarking on a career in the hospitality industry requires many things, from obtaining the proper training to, if one is lucky, finding a mentor who can offer guidance along the way.
For several years, the Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas has helped valley high school graduates out on both counts by awarding scholarships to aspiring hospitality majors and, then, pairing those students with mentors in the industry.
But it turns out that even scholarship winners can use a few basics during their training, and that's why the nonprofit foundation has kicked off its first laptop and business clothing drive.
The Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas was founded 10 years ago as "a kind of a fellowship among food and beverage executives," said Elizabeth Muto, its executive director.
The group -- whose membership is made up of professionals in Southern Nevada's hospitality, food and beverage, and culinary community -- each year makes grants to community organizations, with a list of beneficiaries that includes the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Lied Discovery Children's Museum.
Then, in 2003, the foundation created a scholarship program that helps financially underprivileged students attend college to earn bachelor's degrees in hospitality-related fields.
While the scholarships cover the costs of tuition, fees and books, they don't cover all of a new student's educational necessities. Muto noted that annual family incomes among this year's class of 10 scholarship recipients range from $6,700 to $46,000, "so you can see that they just don't have the money" for such things as computers and interview-suitable outfits.
As a result, all this month, the foundation is collecting gently used laptop computers and professional business attire -- suits, ties, skirts, women's slacks -- that its scholarship recipients may use during job interviews and professional events.
Donations can be made at the foundation's offices, 6765 S. Eastern Ave., Suite 1 (932-5098); the offices of Wicked Creative, 6149 S. Rainbow Blvd. (868-4545); or Sting Systems, 5 Longevity Drive, Henderson (847-8464).
This fall, 10 students will enter college with foundation scholarships in hand. That will bring to about 33 the number of students who currently are attending college on foundation scholarships.
After the students graduate, the foundation helps them find jobs in their fields. Best of all, Muto said, most students plan to stay in Southern Nevada to begin their careers.
The scholarship application process is "rigid," she added. "We want the best of the best, and our student average GPA this year is 3.89.
"And the amazing thing to me is, you see the passion these students have at such a young age. They know what they want to do."
Sevasti Paschalis graduated last month from Northwest Career & Technical Academy. Next month, she begins classes at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she plans to study hospitality management and culinary arts.
"I've always loved cooking," said Paschalis, 18, who began learning her way around a kitchen while cooking with her grandmother when she was a child. She hopes to one day open her own restaurant.
Paschalis had planned to work full time until she could save enough money for college. Receiving a foundation scholarship "made it possible" for her to begin pursuing her culinary dreams right away, she said.
"When I heard I got it, it was like a weight was lifted off of our shoulders," she said.
The foundation raises money for the scholarships through its annual MENUS -- Mentoring and Educating Nevada's Upcoming Students -- dinner, an outdoor dining event that features dishes from Las Vegas' best restaurants.
This year's event will take place in either September or October, Muto said. Tickets -- $500 for individuals, as well as sponsorship levels ranging from $5,000 to $48,000 -- will be available through the foundation's website (www.ecflv.org).
Contact reporter John Przybys at jprzybys@ reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0280.
RSS
Twitter
Facebook
Comments
Terms & Conditions
The following comments are provided by readers and are the sole responsiblity of the authors. The Review-Journal does not review comments before publication nor guarantee their accuracy. By publishing a comment here you agree to abide by the comment policy. If you see a comment that violates the policy, please use the Report Abuse button.
Some comments may not display immediately due to an automatic filter. These comments will be reviewed within 24 hours. Please do not submit a comment more than once.
Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background.