The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation partner to support ProStart classrooms and educators

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Schools can now apply for a $5,000 grant from The Rachael Ray Foundation and the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAEF) to launch or strengthen a ProStart^® culinary arts and restaurant management program. The 2026 Rachael Ray ProStart Grow Grants™ empower educators with tools to bring ProStart’s foundational restaurant management and culinary arts curriculum to life for their students. Funding can be used for equipment, classroom enhancements, student certifications, curriculum resources, and more. 

“I have long admired the ProStart model. It is a bridge between high school students and the many career paths that span the restaurant, hospitality and foodservice industry. Its magic lies in the educators who bring the program to life in classrooms nationwide,” said Rachael Ray. “We are always so excited to support these programs with the resources they need to invest in the next generation of industry professionals.”

The restaurant and foodservice industry is the nation’s second-largest employer. Offering more than 2,000 unique career pathways across more than 70 vocations, more people have worked in the restaurant industry than any other industry in America.

More than an elective, the ProStart curriculum is designed to link students to the restaurant industry, teaching them the essentials of the culinary arts and restaurant management, and equip them with certifications and competencies, more than 400 hours of practical work experience, and access to restaurant and hospitality apprenticeship and scholarship opportunities. Learn more about ProStart here.

“ProStart educators are inspiring the next generation of restaurant and hospitality professionals by connecting classroom instruction with hands-on industry experiences that bring career opportunities to life,” said Michelle Korsmo, CEO of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. “The Rachael Ray Foundation ProStart Grow Grants help educators expand those experiences and equip students with the skills, confidence, and industry exposure needed to explore rewarding careers in the nation’s second largest private employer.”

Since 2019, the ProStart Grow Grant program has awarded more than $1 million through 153 grants to schools nationwide.

Who should apply

• Existing ProStart schools seeking to enhance their programs
• Schools interested in starting a ProStart program

Application timeline

• Applications open: Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026
• Application deadline: Thursday, Sept. 24, 2026
• Awards will be announced in late-October

Apply now

• Educators and school administrators can learn more and apply at: https://chooserestaurants.org/programs/scholarships-grants/rachael-ray-prostart-grow-grant/

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’s 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 Rachael Ray Foundation
The Rachael Ray Foundation™ (RRF) is a private foundation that is fully funded by the proceeds from the sale of Rachael Ray™ Nutrish^®. RRF was launched by Rachael in 2016 to better support the causes she cares for most such as helping animals in need. Additionally, RRF works with organizations that support the mission of Yum-o!, Rachael’s 501c3, in order to bolster and amplify their efforts through additional funding. Yum-o! empowers kids and their families to develop healthy relationships with food and cooking. It also teaches families to cook, feeds hungry kids, and funds cooking education, among other initiatives. 

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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation