Welcome corporate sponsors
The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association created the Educational Foundation in 1994 when its members realized that more needed to be done to provide Florida’s growing foodservice industry with qualified and motivated employees.
Please join us by supporting tomorrow’s foodservice employees. The FRLAEF has several levels of sponsorship. We can help create a sponsorship uniquely tailored to your company or restaurant.
Please contact Laura Rumer, Director, for more information: 321-689-7192 or laura@frla.org.
Global Sponsors are listed below.
Global Sponsors
Florida’s Department of Agriculture just joined us as a sponsor for the 2025-2026 school year. Their Fresh from Florida campaign teaches you how to improve the flavor and freshness of your culinary creations while supporting Florida’s farmers. Sign up to get access to 400 recipes and receive seasonal information.
Keiser University has been a partner with Florida’s ProStart program for over 13 years. As the partnership has grown, so has Keiser’s involvement with Florida’s ProStart program. Currently, Keiser hosts ProStart Teacher Trainings, ProStart Regional Workshops, the Keiser University Culinary Competition as well as providing competition judges and aprons for all of the competition teams.
The National Restaurant Association created and manages the ProStart curriculum, Foundations of Restaurant Management and Culinary Arts. They also provide much needed support for each state’s Educational Foundation.
The FRLAEF’s relationship with UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality has grown tremendously over the years. UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality began their involvement by participating in the expo at the ProStart Culinary Team Competitions. Now they host ProStart Teacher Trainings, ProStart Regional Workshops, UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality Competition as well as provide competition judges. UCF’s Rosen College of Hospitality is also the host site for the Universal Orlando Handheld Competition and UCF staff was instrumental in the creation of that event.
St. Thomas University is our newest sponsor, just joining us for the 2025-2026 school year. However, members of their staff have worked with the ProStart program for over 20 years. They are excited to offer opportunities to ProStart instructors and students on their campus in Miami Gardens.
This marks the third year of the Universal Orlando Handheld Competition, which allows the winning team to have their handheld creation sold in a Universal Orlando restaurant. In addition to working closely with Florida’s ProStart program on the Universal Orlando Handheld Competition and hosting teachers during the ProStart Teacher Training, Universal Orlando is also the sponsor of the Universal Orlando Edible Centerpiece Competition.