Highland Park Restauranteur Joey Morelli Is On Mission To Cook For Kids Around World

HIGHLAND PARK, IL — Without community leaders, Highland Park wouldn’t hum along nearly as smoothly as it does. We’d miss their contributions in big and small ways.

Patch has partnered with T-Mobile to recognize these often unsung community leaders and celebrate their contributions.

This submission comes from Tali Faris-Hylen, a Highland Park reader who nominated Joey Morelli.

How do you know this community leader?

I help promote his non-profit, Joey's Food Fight. Through this organization, he works to empower and educate children in orphanages worldwide through the power of cooking.

What does this community leader do?

He travels the world cooking for disadvantaged youth and displaced individuals to cook for them.We believe that by teaching them valuable culinary and life skills, we can help them become self-sufficient and confident individuals.

Why do you believe the community leader should be recognized or honored?

He's a pioneer. He hopes to travel to 10 countries in 10 years (he's already been to Cambodia and Ukraine!) to cook and teach people how to cook and utilize their local ingredients.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about the community hero?

He's a no nonsense kind of guy who takes his simple strength of cooking/being a chef to empower and spread love to people around the world. He also does this work locally in and around Chicagoland.

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Know a community leader who deserves a shout-out?

Nominate them here.