On this past Thanksgiving eve, renowned chefs from the city’s finest hotels and restaurants gathered at the Children’s Aid Dunlevy Milbank Center to prepare a fantastic meal for community members in central Harlem. Approximately 2,000 Harlem residents are fed at this event every year, including children and youth served by Children’s Aid early childhood and after-school programs.
For the 27th year in a row, the Food and Beverage Association of America generously organized and hosted this special Thanksgiving dinner for families in Harlem. Executive Chef Joe Fontanals, of the Sheraton New York Times Square, directed the culinary efforts. Chef Fontanals and his team cooked an estimated 250 20-lb. turkeys with all the trimmings. Gladys Mouton Di Stefano, chairperson of the Food and Beverage Association of America and president of At Your Service Party Consulting, LLC, organized the dinner and coordinated all donations, as she has since the first year of the event. Association members, their colleagues, and friends donated all the food, decorations, and table settings for the dinner, and prepare and serve the food at the event.
Established in 1956, The Food and Beverage Association of America™ is dedicated to promoting and advancing friendly relations between members, encouraging continuing education, assisting in career growth, providing industry-related scholarships, and offering philanthropic support for critical social issues. The Association is a nonprofit 501c3 professional organization composed of individuals from the hospitality industry facilitating in the promotion and encouragement of the adoption and application of improved standards, methods, and the interchange of information in the food and beverage service industry. The Association invests in the future of the hospitality industry through Scholarship and Awards Programs, offering financial assistance to future hospitality professionals who have demonstrated need and scholastic superiority. Visit http://fbassoc.com/
Children’s Aid is an independent, nonprofit organization established to serve the children of New York City. Our mission is to help children in poverty succeed and thrive. We do this by providing comprehensive supports to children and their families in targeted high-needs New York City neighborhoods. Founded in 1853, it is one of the nation’s largest and most innovative non-sectarian agencies, serving New York’s neediest children. Services are provided in community schools, neighborhood centers, health clinics and camps. For additional information, please call Anthony Ramos at (212) 949-4938, email anthonyr@childrensaidnyc.org, or visit www.childrensaidnyc.org.
