Emeril Lagasse Foundation Grants $500,000 to CA Non Profits

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation announces two $250,000 grants to Napa Valley Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County to aid in the recovery efforts following the October 2017 wildfires in Northern California.

On Monday, Dec. 4 at the community foundations’ respective offices in Napa and Sonoma counties, Chef Emeril Lagasse and members of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s board of directors presented each organization with a $250,000 grant for wildfire relief efforts.

The Foundation recently celebrated its 13th annual fundraising event, Carnivale du Vin, on Nov. 4 in New Orleans. The nationally recognized wine auction and gala dinner brought together the best in wine and food and featured a record-breaking live auction that raised over $1.5 million for charities in a single night.

As part of the live auction, the evening featured a Fund-a-Need element that spotlighted the devastating wildfires and raised funds for the recovery grants.

“This year’s Fund-a-Need was especially important to us because so many of our winemakers, donors, sponsors and friends who make the Foundation’s fundraising efforts possible were affected by the California fires,” says Chef Emeril Lagasse. “My wife, Alden, and I are grateful for their tremendous generosity year after year, and we’re honored to be able to pay it forward and give back to those in need in the Napa Valley and Sonoma regions.”

To learn more and contribute to the Emergency Assistance Fund set up by the Emeril Lagasse Foundation for the families, winery workers and hospitality workers living in Napa and Sonoma counties who were affected by the wildfires, please visit Emeril.org. All donations go directly to Napa Valley Community Foundation and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County.

About Emeril Lagasse Foundation:
Founded in 2002 by Chef Emeril Lagasse and his wife Alden, Emeril Lagasse Foundation is a 501c(3) public charity headquartered in New Orleans. The Foundation’s mission is to create opportunities to inspire, mentor and enable youth to reach their full potential through culinary, nutrition and arts education with a focus on life skills development. Since its inception, Emeril Lagasse Foundation has granted more than $8 million to several children’s charities to support culinary, nutrition and arts programs. The Foundation was recognized as the 2016 Nonprofit of the Year by Louisiana Association of Non-Profit Organizations. To learn more about the Foundation and its beneficiaries, visit Emeril.org, or follow on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.