BATON ROUGE, La. — February 2, 2026 — The Baton Rouge Epicurean Society (BRES) presented more than $120,000 in donations to local nonprofit organizations Monday, made possible through funds raised from its 2025 culinary fundraising events and the generous support of community sponsors.
The donations represent the culmination of BRES’s 2025 “culinary for a cause” events, including Crawfête, Fête Rouge, and the annual Awards Dinner, which honors a local hospitality leader. Proceeds from these events, combined with sponsorship contributions from local businesses and partners, allow BRES to further its mission of improving childhood nutrition, health, education and food security in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
“This year’s donations reflect the collective efforts of our event attendees, sponsors and community partners,” said Yvette Bonanno, Past President of the Board of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society. “Together, these funds help support organizations that make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and families across our region.”
The following organizations received funding:
- Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank — $45,000
- FMOL Health|OLOL Children’s Health Weight & Nutrition Center— $20,000
- Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA)– 'Red Stick Sprouts' Children’s Program — $15,000
- ProStart – Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation — $15,000
- Knock Knock Children’s Museum — $10,000
- CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) — $10,000
- Girls on the Run South Louisiana — $5,000
The Baton Rouge Epicurean Society is a 501c3 and its mission is to enrich the culinary culture for the Capital Area Community while raising funds for childhood nutrition and health initiatives, educational programs and scholarships. Board members include culinary professionals in the capital area including chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, food suppliers and wine and spirit purveyors.
PLEASE READ TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH DONATION...
Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s Backpack Program received $45,000.
The Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank’s (GBRFB)child-feeding program helps get more food into the hands of kids who need it. The Backpack Program for Student Success was designed to fill the void for students who are at risk of missing meals outside of school hours. The GBRFB is currently serving over 3,000 K-12 public school students in 8 of our 11 parishes. Participating students receive a “kit” each Friday of the school year with meals for the weekend, double portions on holiday weeks. Each kit contains 2 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 2 snacks.
FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Weight & Nutrition Center received $20,000.
The FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Weight & Nutrition Center has a team of pediatricians, dietitians and other specialists assisting children and their families implement a personalized treatment plan for obesity and develop healthy habits for their life. Family wellness Wednesdays are held each week at the children's hospital that include mini cooking demonstrations, wellness activities and nutrition training. In addition, the Center offers the Culinary and Obesity Medicine (CHOMP) elective for pediatric resident doctors. This hands-on experience blends healthcare and cooking to help families turn everyday ingredients into nutritious meals. Through this training, pediatric residents and providers are better equipped to address food insecurity and obesity in clinical practice. These programs were seeded by the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society’s donations and continue to grow with each donation.
Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA)– 'Red Stick Sprouts' Children’s Program received $15,000.
For over 6 years BRES has supported the Sprouts Program which assists Big River Economic & Agricultural Development Alliance (BREADA)’s mission to build a healthy, sustainable local food system – and empowering children to make healthy choices and strengthen their connection to the community that grows their food. Children in the Sprouts Program receive a $2 Sprouts Token at each of the 130 annual markets to buy fresh produce and practice making their own decisions. In 2025, 2,521 unique children were provided a coin (4,890 visits) and an additional 7,000 children engaged in the sprouts program through field trips and additional children at the market.
ProStart Louisiana Restaurant Association Educational Foundation received $15,000.
ProStart, managed by the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF), is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program for Louisiana high school students. It prepares over 2,000+ students in 65+ schools for careers through curriculum, mentorship, 400 hours of work experience, and industry certifications. The program connects students with industry professionals, provides scholarships for higher education, and prepares them for immediate employment.ProStart, managed by the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF), is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management program for Louisiana high school students. It prepares over 2,000+ students in 65+ schools for careers through curriculum, mentorship, 400 hours of work experience, and industry certifications. The program connects students with industry professionals, provides scholarships for higher education, and prepares them for immediate employment.
Knock Knock Children’s Museum Garden Program received $10,000.
In 2025, The Knock Knock Children’s Museum used our funds to assist with building the Little Garden in the Big Backyard. With this new donation the Garden Program can expand into the Adventuresome Eating Club. Building on the popular learning zones of the Pelican Pantry and I See Food Café, the Adventuresome Eating Club and Little Garden in Our Big Backyard programs introduce children and families to fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables through hands on gardening, food preparation demonstrations and tasting experiences. Children pick produce from the garden, prepare simple kid-tested recipes and taste healthy foods – often for the first time. Favorites include strawberry salsa, homemade pickles and tomato- herb salad. Parents see that fresh food can be economical, easy to prepare, and appealing to children. The program combines nutrition education with early learning skills such as measuring, following instructions, and reading food labels. Most importantly, it sparks joy and confidence in children around healthy eating while strengthening family bonds.
CASA Grocery Assistance Program received $10,000.
In 2025, BRES’s donation allowed Court Appointed Special Advocates to gift 50 families with $200 grocery gift cards to local grocery stores. Many of the foster families who used the cards are caring for multiple children and struggling with the rising cost of basic groceries. CASA supports foster children who have experienced abuse or neglect and are facing the unknown: courtrooms, foster care, new schools. CASA volunteers make sure they don't face it alone. Court Appointed Special Advocate volunteers are appointed by judges to advocate for children’s best interests. This best-interest advocacy makes a life-changing difference for children and youth who have experienced abuse or neglect.
Girls on the Run South Louisiana received $5,000.
In 2025, Through our donation, GOTRSOLA was able to provide healthy snacks to 120 girls in their 10-week Girls on the Run program and 54 pairs of running shoes were purchased for girls that needed them. Healthy snacks nourish and support a girl’s program experience and allow the coach a moment to teach healthy food choices.
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