New for 2025, the JumpStart Grant from the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) provides one ProStart® school the chance to take up to eight students and two chaperones to the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago for a four-day immersive industry experience. The grant covers travel, accommodations, participation fees, and provides up to $5,000 for additional expenses.
JumpStart is designed to provide an immersive experience for students to see and learn all that the restaurant and foodservice industry has to offer, to meet with industry experts, and to begin their career journeys.
Each year, schools with existing ProStart programs can apply for the grant to attend the JumpStart experience at the National Restaurant Association Show. The winning school will have demonstrated how this opportunity would have a positive impact on their ProStart students and how it would help launch and support their careers in the industry. NRAEF assembles a panel of impartial judges to review the grant applications using a defined rubric based on the underlying grant purpose and considering other criteria as part of the selection process.
Champion Future Talent: Support JumpStart Grants
Whether through financial support or an industry activation, there are many ways to help bring the ProStart JumpStart experience to life. Your partnership makes it possible for students to have formative opportunities to build meaningful careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry.
To learn more about donating to the JumpStart Grant, please contact us at: partnerships@nraef.org
W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center
Lafayette, Louisianna
ProStart Educator: Kandice Dequeant
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