[Tallahassee, Fla] Florida ProStart raised $138,781.94 on Oct. 17 in partnership with Whole Foods Market Florida stores. As part of the grocer’s quarterly Community Giving Day, 5% of the day’s net sales were donated to Florida ProStart to better serve high school students in the vicinity of Whole Foods Market stores statewide by furthering their education and training in the foodservice industry.
“This donation from Whole Foods Markets will have a tremendous impact on Florida ProStart students as it will allow us to offer over 50 more scholarships in the Sunshine State,” said Laura Rumer, Director of the Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association Educational Foundation (FRLAEF). “Florida ProStart is in 238 schools around the state, helping high school students get a solid start in an incredible industry filled with opportunity for advancement. We look forward to finding more ways to partner with Whole Foods Markets as we continue to promote hospitality education in Florida.”
Whole Foods Markets hosts several Community Giving Days per year, offering customers the opportunity to make a difference through their regular grocery shopping. Florida ProStart was chosen as the third quarter nonprofit in August of this year, and 29 Whole Foods Market stores around Florida participated in the event. Money raised through the October Community Giving Day will be used to bolster ProStart scholarships as well as for ProStart kitchen grants.
Each year, FRLAEF gives out more than $40,000 in scholarships and awards $80,000 in mini grants to schools throughout the state. Additionally, one school is selected each year to receive a $50,000 kitchen remodel, and the 2019-2020 grant was awarded to Coral Shores High School last month.