Community Foundation of Broward President/CEO Jennifer O’Flannery Anderson recently awarded Arc Culinary’s 2023 Mary N. Porter Student Chef of the Year to Patrick Jones.

Arc Culinary, in Sunrise, helps people with developmental disabilities and other life challenges learn new skills to work at restaurants, food trucks, catering services and other culinary employment opportunities.

At Arc Culinary’s “InspHired” awards luncheon on Oct. 18, Jennifer praised Chef of the Year honoree Patrick Jones for his exemplary leadership qualities and the positive attitude that made him stand out among his peers.

“What truly sets Patrick apart is his ambition, work ethic and passion for the art of food,” Jennifer said.  “His kindness, humility and respectfulness shine through in his every action.”

The Chef of the Year award is named for philanthropist Mary Porter, whose endowed charitable fund at the Community Foundation provided a key grant to help build Arc Culinary’s professional teaching kitchen.

Mary’s estate gift to the Community Foundation in 2012 created several endowed charitable funds, including the Mary N. Porter Legacy Fund, which established a dedicated source of support for construction, renovations and other major capital projects that make life better for Broward residents.

Now on Mary’s behalf, the Community Foundation finds innovative projects – such as Arc Culinary’s teaching kitchen – that make a lasting community impact and carry on Mary’s name.

Watch this short video where Patrick talks about his experience at Arc Culinary

To find out how you can make a lasting impact by creating a charitable fund at the Community Foundation, contact Vice President of Philanthropic Services Kelly Marmol at kmarmol@cfbroward.org or 954-761-9503.

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