Rochelle Trotter, on behalf of Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation, Donates $25,000 to American Culinary Federation for Scholarships

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Aug. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Rochelle Trotter, wife of the late renowned chef Charlie Trotter, HHOF, announced that Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation will donate $25,000 to the American Culinary Federation Education Foundation (ACFEF) for culinary-arts education scholarships. The announcement was made July 26 during the 2014 American Culinary Federation (ACF) National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri.

Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation was established by Charlie Trotter in 1999 with the goal to educate and expose young people to the culinary arts. The foundation awards need-based scholarships to students seeking culinary-related careers and encourages the pursuit of excellence in these youth by exposing them to Charlie Trotter's principals regarding cuisine, service, wine and learning.

"Charles was a man who always told me that access equals opportunity," said Rochelle Trotter, executive director, Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation. "I am honored to work with the Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation that my husband began 15 years ago and continue to give aspiring youth a chance to pursue their culinary dreams. On the foundation's behalf, we are thrilled to continue our relationship with ACF and its scholarship program. A dedicated scholarship process has been developed, which truly places emphasis on financial need. This new need-based point process will be uniformly implemented with all strategic scholarship partners selected by Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation."

The $25,000 donation awarded to ACFEF will be distributed during the next year in $2,500 increments to culinary students. The scholarships will be awarded based on financial need and an application process to include an essay asking students how they envision themselves pursuing excellence on a daily basis.

"We would like to express our deepest gratitude to Rochelle Trotter and the Charlie Trotter Culinary Foundation for this generous donation that will change the lives of so many ACF students," said Thomas Macrina, CEC^®, CCA^®, AAC^®, ACF national president. "Trotter was a culinary icon who not only paved the way for many up-and-coming chefs, but had a key influence on American cuisine and inspired a more creative approach to food. It gives me great joy to see Trotter's philanthropic efforts live on in the efforts of his family and friends."

Charlie Trotter opened his eponymous restaurant in Chicago in 1987, encouraging a more creative approach to food, especially in the Midwest. He paved the way for many aspiring chefs and was renowned for his philanthropic endeavors. President George W. Bush and Colin Powell, former secretary of state, both recognized Trotter for his work, and in 2005 he was awarded Humanitarian of the Year by the International Association of Culinary Professionals. Trotter received 10 James Beard Awards, five stars from Forbes, four stars from the Chicago Tribune, authored 14 cookbooks and hosted the award-winning PBS series, The Kitchen Sessions with Charlie Trotter.

Charlie Trotter's many accomplishments helped pave the way for his philanthropic goals and his legacy will continue through the efforts of the foundation. Charlie Trotter's Culinary Education Foundation will be re-establishing its presence and updating its goals in the coming months under the leadership of Rochelle Trotter. Find additional information at www.charlietrottersculinaryeducationfoundation.org.

About the American Culinary Federation
The American Culinary Federation, Inc. (ACF), established in 1929, is the premier professional organization for culinarians in North America. With more than 20,000 members spanning 200 chapters nationwide, ACF is the culinary leader in offering educational resources, training, apprenticeship and programmatic accreditation. In addition, ACF operates the most comprehensive certification program for chefs in the United States, with the Certified Executive Chef^®, Certified Sous Chef^® and Certified Executive Pastry Chef^® designations the only culinary credentials accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies. ACF is home to ACF Culinary Team USA, the official representative for the United States in major international culinary competitions, and to the Chef & Child Foundation, founded in 1989 to promote proper nutrition in children and to combat childhood obesity. For more information, visit www.acfchefs.org. Find ACF on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ACFChefs and on Twitter @ACFChefs.

Media Contacts:
Chelsea Pillsbury: (904) 484-0226; [email protected]
Patricia Carroll: (904) 484-0247; [email protected]

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SOURCE The American Culinary Federation, Inc.