Washington, DC, Nov. 28, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) is pleased to announce its first-ever Giving Tuesday campaign.

With any donation, large or small, supporters of the NRAEF can help attract a new generation of talent and create opportunities for millions of people passionate about the restaurant and foodservice industry.

Donations from supporters at any level will make an impact on the people the Foundation serves – military service members and their families, high school students passionate about restaurants and foodservice, disconnected youth, current employees in the restaurant industry and more.

“As the season of giving begins, we want to continue to feed dreams and build futures for those interested in or currently working in this industry,” said Rob Gifford, executive vice president of the NRAEF. “This holiday season, we hope friends of the Foundation will consider giving back so that we can continue to attract, empower and advance our future workforce.”

The NRAEF’s mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. With a portfolio of programs, the Foundation aims to create opportunities for the 14.7 million employees working in the restaurant industry to advance their careers.

“Every day I see my passion for the industry growing,” said Giselle Lomas, an alumna of the NRAEF’s ProStart program and a 2017 scholarship recipient attending Texas State Technical College. “I want to pursue my degree so that I can offer my skills to others, assist with my family business, express my passion for food and cooking and be a strong voice for the industry.”

Click here to donate to the NRAEF and make a difference this holiday season. Visit www.ChooseRestaurants.org to learn more about the NRAEF, its program and its impact.

About the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation:  As the philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s mission of service to the public is dedicated to enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today’s and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready – partnering with community based organizations to provide “opportunity youth” with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and, the Hospitality Sector Registered Apprenticeship project – a partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6f61bdaf-b1fc-4a37-a31e-bc2e6be3b088

Attachments:

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/31d6fe52-ef2b-49a4-b541-6b5716c4c520