For the fourth consecutive year, the American Express Company has awarded the Michigan Restaurant Association Educational Support Foundation (MRAESF) with a generous grant. Pia Feliciano of American Express presented MRA Educational Support Foundation president Bill Roberts and MRA president Jerry Fournier with a $15,000 check on January 30th.

These grant dollars and others are directed toward the MRA?s School-to-Career program. Currently, more than 25 Michigan high schools have implemented the ProStart curriculum developed by the National Restaurant Association. ProStart is a two-year course designed to prepare students for careers in the restaurant and foodservice industry.

As we team up with educators, students and industry mentors to develop tomorrow?s workforce, we find ourselves enhancing the image of our industry.

On March 1st, the first Michigan ProStart Student Invitational will be held at Baker College in Muskegon. The invitational will showcase culinary and academic talents of 89 ProStart students representing 12 schools from across the state.

Our ability to develop programs like this is made possible through the generosity of our corporate partners and benefactors ? such as American Express. To learn more about contributing to or raising money for the MRA ESF, please contact Penny Papantonopoulos of the MRA staff at (800) 968-9668 or e-mail pennyp@acd.net.