Get Involved

By bringing together the hospitality industry and the classroom, industry-based education gives students a platform to discover new interests and talents, which open doors to fulfilling careers. Your investment unleashes opportunities that can inspire lifelong goals. Donations to NCRLA Foundation are tax-deductible and directly support students and teachers immediate educational needs. Donations are accepted on both individual giving and corporate giving levels. To learn more or to donate today, click here.

As a ProStart mentor, you will play different roles at different times to align with your student mentee’s needs. Mentors help students make the connection between their present performance and their future. As a mentor, you’ll provide overall support for student goals, career competence and character development. The North Carolina ProStart Program welcomes those experienced in one or various aspects of the hospitality industry to serve as a mentor. For more information, or to become a mentor, contact us.

In addition to volunteering time as mentor, the NCRLA Foundation seeks those willing to give back in other ways—from a one-time event volunteer or guest speaker to a field trip host, workshop leader or job shadowing opportunity. We also offer ways to be directly involved with the North Carolina ProStart Program and ProStart competitions. By serving in any of these capacities, your commitment of time and resources will make a significant impression on the lives of future hospitality leaders. To volunteer with the NCRLA Foundation, contact us.

ProStart students come to an employer ready to make an immediate impact. They are trained in industry-specific and transferable skills that bring value to the employer. ProStart students have already honed the following skills:

• Safety and sanitation
• Kitchen essentials
• Management essentials
• Customer service and communication
• Culinary arts
• Leadership
• Purchasing, inventory and cost control
• Sustainability

Let NCRLA ease your recruitment needs with streamlined access to motivated, skilled ProStart students across North Carolina. Whether you would prefer starting with current students as interns, or meeting experienced workers or recent graduates, NCRLA can work with your company to develop a program that suits your needs. Contact us today for more information.

Does your restaurant have older, but functioning equipment? Consider donating it to the future of the hospitality industry through the DORES (Donating Older Restaurant Equipment to Schools) program. Your donation can be claimed as a “charitable equipment donation” for tax purposes and will assist North Carolina ProStart program students in learning important skills to thrive in the hospitality industry.

Click here for a list of suggested items. To contribute to the DORES program, contact us.