Educational Foundation program wins top award; Association advocacy program takes Silver

Washington, DC – July 31, 2024 – The National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation are celebrating winning two 2024 American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Power of Associations Awards.

The Educational Foundation Hospitality Opportunities for People (re)Entering Society (HOPES) program was named one of six Summit Award winners, ASAE’s highest honor. HOPES supports justice-involved individuals on a path to employment and independence. Using a Community Collaborative Model, HOPES works with Departments of Corrections, community-based organizations, and state restaurant associations to connect currently or previously incarcerated adults of all ages with career opportunities in the restaurant, foodservice, and hospitality industries. 

The Association received a Silver Award in the Advocacy category for its Hill Runner program, which was created in the wake of the pandemic to expand on restaurant operators’ successful grassroots and grass top advocacy. Through one-on-one relationships with their members of Congress, operators share stories of how the laws Congress considers could impact their restaurants—positively and negatively—as well as the communities they serve. 

“We are thrilled to have a program from our Association and our Foundation recognized by our fellow association professionals at ASAE,” said Michelle Korsmo, President & CEO of the National Restaurant Association and CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “Our two award-winning programs, HOPES and Hill Runner, are great examples of how we lead the restaurant and foodservice industry’s outreach and advocacy. We are proud of our work building high-level relationships with members of Congress and empowering individuals who have been justice-involved to find success in the restaurant industry. Just as restaurants are places where people can make a difference and change lives, we know our association work is meaningful and makes positive difference for our members.”

“Congratulations to the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation and the National Restaurant Association for exemplifying the impact associations have on the industries and professions they represent, and on society at large,” said ASAE President and CEO Michelle Mason, FASAE, CAE. “It’s always so incredibly satisfying to see associations going above and beyond their everyday missions to change the world. We’re very proud to spotlight these award-winning initiatives.”

Get more information about the HOPES program here or learn more about the Hill Runners here. 

About The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) 

As the supporting philanthropic foundation of the National Restaurant Association, the NRAEF’s charitable mission includes enhancing the industry’s training and education, career development, and community engagement efforts. The NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower, and Advance today and tomorrow’s restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs include: ProStart® – a high-school career and technical education program; Restaurant Ready/HOPES – Partnering with community based organizations to provide people with skills training and job opportunities; Military – helping military servicemen and women transition their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers; Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees; and the Restaurant & Hospitality Leadership Center (RHLC) – accredited apprenticeship programs designed to build the careers of service professionals. For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.

About The National Restaurant Association

Founded in 1919, the National Restaurant Association is the leading business association for the restaurant industry, which comprises more than 1 million restaurant and foodservice outlets and a workforce of 15.5 million employees. Together with 52 State Associations, we are a network of professional organizations dedicated to serving every restaurant through advocacy, education, and food safety. We sponsor the industry’s largest trade show; leading food safety training and certification program (ServSafe); unique career-building high school program (the NRAEF’s ProStart). For more information, visit  Restaurant.org and find @WeRRestaurants on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube.

About The Power of Associations Awards

ASAE’s Power of Associations Awards recognize the association community’s economic and societal contributions locally, nationally and globally. ASAE will celebrate The Power of Associations Award recipients during its annual Summit Awards Dinner on September 24, 2024, at the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C.

CONTACTS:

Hannah Oliver
National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation
holiver@nraef.org

Vanessa Sink
National Restaurant Association
vsink@restaurant.org