The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) has launched “Restaurants Advance,” a national fundraising campaign to help current and future restaurant workers access the education and training they need to put their job or career back on track. Constellation Brands, a beverage alcohol company, has committed $1.75 million to support the NRAEF and the initiative as the industry continues to rebuild and reopen after COVID-19.
Since March 2020, over two million workers have lost their jobs, salaries, and opportunities to advance. The National Restaurant Association reports that 110,000 or 17% of restaurants have closed permanently and or long-term, with the vast majority of permanently closed restaurants being well-established businesses and fixtures in their communities.
Working alongside its partner organization, the Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance (MFHA), the Restaurants Advance campaign focuses on three key support areas benefitting both restaurant workers and operators: Restaurants Advance Futures, programs to attract, empower and advance diverse talent to the restaurant, foodservice and hospitality industry; Restaurants Advance Communities, to help employers and communities create opportunities through first job skills training, apprenticeships and professional development and Restaurants Advance Entrepreneurship, which puts people from all backgrounds on a pathway to restaurant ownership and/or an executive-level leadership position.
“While the pandemic has caused historic pain for restaurants and restaurant workers, it has raised the public consciousness for just how important this industry is to the health and well-being of our society,” said Rob Gifford, president of the NRAEF. “What we do now will shape the industry’s future and the lives of millions of people for years to come.”
