Chefs for Kids, Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization and a cooperative venture of the ACF Chefs of Las Vegas and the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension.  The Chefs for Kids program works to eliminate malnutrition and hunger through education and awareness.  Often in a society where television and computers bring information to our doorstep, we assume that simple facts like knowing that a pear grows on a tree or that a balanced diet is essential to good health throughout a lifetime are well known by everyone.  Surprisingly, many children lack the essential nutrition knowledge necessary to fight personal battles against poor eating habits.

Chefs for Kids is helping to fight this battle by providing nutrition education to students in “high needs” schools in Nevada.  The chefs teamed up with nutritionists from the University of Nevada Cooperative Extension who developed the nutrition program for first and second grade children.  Children learn skills for living a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and physical activity.  These are skills they can carry into adulthood to help lessen the incidence of chronic disease and obesity.

Some of the highlights of the past year include:

• The Nutrition Education Program is being taught in twelve high-needs schools with the second grade program and up to 20 additional high needs schools with the first grade program.
  
• Fabulous breakfasts were prepared and served by the chefs in all twelve high-needs schools throughout the year.  Almost 9,000 students were fed.  Chefs donate over 500 hours yearly to prepare breakfasts and serve the children.
• Healthy snacks are donated to each school, once each month—that’s over 79,000 snacks each year!
• Chefs for Kids provided Thanksgiving and Holiday meals to almost 150 families.
• A spectacular Christmas Eve breakfast was prepared and served to the residents of Shade Tree Shelter.  Not only were their bodies fed, but also their spirits as they received a visit and gifts from Santa and members of the ACF Chefs of Las Vegas.
• The annual Chefs for Kids Dinner and Auction is an evening filled with fabulous gourmet food, upbeat music and dancing, and competitive bidding on both silent and live auction packages.  The black tie optional event is well-known for its fun-filled atmosphere, and is attended by corporate sponsors, community leaders, and professionals from all parts of the community.  This is the only fundraiser Chefs for Kids holds.

Now in its eighteenth year, the program has reached over 26,400 students since its inception.  100% of the proceeds from the dinner and auction remain in Clark County, funding the nutrition program.  As the Chefs for Kids program continues to grow, so shall education, awareness, and good health for a lifetime.