Pro-Bono
Past and Present
Blue Star Families [BSF] is a national, nonprofit network by and for military families that strengthens military families and our nation by connecting communities and fostering leadership. BSF hosts an array of morale, empowerment, education and employment programs. Since its inception, BSF has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers and served over a million military family members, wounded and transitioning service members and their loved ones.
Chefs for Equality brings together the capital region's top chefs, pastry chefs and mixologists for an evening of food, cocktails and music to benefit the fight for full LGBTQ equality. The event features savory tasting and drink stations headed by renowned chefs and mixologists from the D.C.-area, as well as eight personal chef tables - an opportunity to dine with celebrity chefs for a lavish five-course meal in the middle of the action during the evening. In addition to impressive fare, an auction benefiting the HRC Foundation is also held.
Mardi Gras Extravaganza [MGE] is all about creating an authentic evening that honors the cuisine, cocktails, and musical culture of New Orleans. Proceeds from this event benefit DC Central Kitchen (DCCK), whose mission is to fight hunger differently. The hosts of this extravaganza have volunteered countless hours to DCCK, especially with their program that educates the homeless through the culinary arts so they can gain employment, feel empowered with skills and change the cycle of poverty.
Chefs Feeding Families Chefs Feeding Families, founded by Chef David Guas in March 2020, began 24 hours after Arlington County Public Schools shut down due to COVID-19. Guas and his team set up an outdoor kitchen at Bayou Bakery in Arlington, VA, serving Camellia Red Beans & Rice, a New Orleans staple and a go-to dish for displaced families after Hurricane Katrina. Partnering with Real Food for Kids, they launched the initiative to provide free, plant-based meals to Arlington families, military households, and underserved communities. With growing support from local chefs, the program has served over 120,000 meals, addressing ongoing food insecurity among school children impacted by the pandemic.
Les Dames d'Escoffier DC is the Washington DC chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier International(LDEI), an international philanthropic organization comprising 29 chapters across the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Members are professional women in the food, beverage and related industries. All are women of achievement, leaders in their fields as well as their communities, and have a minimum of five years' experience in their respective industries. The chapter provides opportunities for our members and their guests to socialize, network and learn. Simone Rathle, president of simoneink, has been a Washington, DC chapter member for over 20 years - sharing her media relations expertise and industry insights.
Regarding Her [RE:Her] was founded in Los Angeles by a group of nine female restaurateurs, who started this movement in 2020 during the pandemic to connect, collaborate, and further the careers of women in the restaurant industry. RE:Her DC focuses its efforts on providing small business grants, mentorship, and resources that directly benefit women in the culinary arts. RE:Her DC is the first chapter to be established outside from its sisters in Los Angeles. The sisterhood of women-identifying culinary professionals has a strong foundation, but it was important for these pioneering women to establish an official organization that would provide female restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, bakers, distillers, winemakers, bar owners, food truck operators, and other hospitality industry businesswomen with the framework necessary for their establishments to progress in meaningful and substantial ways. Empowering women creates a platform for growth while addressing inequality, social reform, and political awareness within our cities and neighborhoods. Gender equality opens the door for communities to improve upon social and economic well-being.