The Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund is a program of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation  (501c3), uplifts the lives of Latino youth through food. Founded by Chef Aarón Sánchez, the Fund supports two key initiatives: 

 

Aarón Sánchez Scholarship:

The Aarón Sánchez Scholarship is the flagship initiative of the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund, empowering aspiring Latino chefs with scholarships, mentorship and hands-on training. 

 

This life-changing opportunity is unlike most other scholarships. It provides an opportunity to earn a Culinary Arts Certificate from New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute, including full tuition, flights to and from New Orleans, housing, grocery & transportation stipends, and mentorship from celebrity chef Aarón Sánchez and his network of industry professionals.

 

Since its inception, the program has awarded 25 culinary arts scholarships valued at over $1.6 million and continues to achieve a goal of diversifying kitchen leadership for future generations.

 

The scholarship continues to change the lives of young Latinos like Melanie, a culinary arts scholarship award recipient from St. Petersburg, FL with Colombian heritage who was also valedictorian of her culinary arts school cohort. 

 

“I received the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship, and it changed my life. The opportunity to meet so many great chefs that wanted to help guide us to our goals is something I will never forget.”

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Human Services Grant Program:

The Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund’s Human Services Grant Program provides programmatic support to nonprofit organizations that provide food access and nutrition education for Latino youth. This initiative helps remove barriers and create opportunities for youth to lead healthier,

more secure lives.