The year 2000 brought a partnership between NYSRA’s Educational Foundation and the National Restaurant Association’s national initiative, a School-to-Career program, called ProStart. The ProStart program operates in 47 states, in over 1,500 schools, involving approximately 55,000 students and well over 5,000 educators. In New York State the ProStart program presently operates in 57 schools, involving over 3600 students and well over 200 educators and introduces the student to a comprehensive hospitality industry program at the 11^th and 12^th grade level. The disciplined program includes the following components: mentoring, paid internships, promoting entrepreneurship, basic business skill development, nationally certified exams, scholarships, state and national competitions and post-secondary opportunities in the form of articulation agreements with culinary and hospitality programs throughout the U.S. with the purpose of generating qualified and capable professionals for today and the future while maintaining standards with limited resources. On balance, the excitement of contributing to the growth of a much needed program that enriches our schools and ultimately the future of 3600 students provides it’s own motivation to continue this most important work.

You can help by making a donation to the Foundation in any amount. Your donation will help the Foundation provide scholarships and develop educational programs around the state. Please send your donation to the address below and thank you for your support!