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RELEASE: Doe Fund Culinary Arts Program Receives ACF Certification

THE DOE FUND’S CULINARY ARTS PROGRAM RECEIVES AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION CERTIFICATION 

READY, WILLING, & ABLE’S MOST POPULAR CAREER PATH PROVIDES LIFE-LONG OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAREER ADVANCEMENT

New York City-based nonprofit organization The Doe Fund is pleased to announce that its popular culinary arts training program has received a five-year extension of certification as an American Culinary Federation (ACF) Education Foundation Quality Program. This accreditation assures that the program meets educational, practical and professional standards and offers up-to-date food preparation, food safety, and kitchen management curriculum to its trainees.

In order to achieve this re-certification, Ready, Willing & Able kitchens underwent rigorous inspection by the ACF including a thorough review of the program’s culinary curriculum as well as class and teaching observations on site. The recipes presented during the supervised class included braised coconut spinach and chickpeas with lemon, an original dish developed by former program graduate and current staff member Daniel Djoro.

In addition to extending the ACFED Quality Program certification, the inspectors agreed to grant all program graduates with credit for ten additional continuing education hours. These credits can be applied to future advanced culinary certifications available to the men in the program, enabling further professional growth.

“We are extremely proud of this recognition and the doors it will open for our trainees as they work to advance their careers. The culinary arts have incredible potential in terms of meaningful work and advancement, and this will help it remain a central component of our program,” said Gino Dalesandro, Director of Food Services at The Doe Fund.

The culinary arts program is a key component of The Doe Fund’s job training efforts.  For over twenty years the culinary arts have provided a path towards self sufficiency and independence for thousands of “men in blue” enrolled in the program. It remains one of the most popular career tracks for Ready, Willing & Able program graduates, with 29% of last year’s graduates pursuing opportunities in the accommodation, retail and food services sectors.