Oceanside Charitable Foundation Awards Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside $15,000 for Culinary Arts & Workforce Development Program

​Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) has received a $15,000 grant from The Oceanside Charitable Foundation, an affiliate of The San Diego Foundation, to support their Culinary Arts & Workforce Development Program.

BGCO recently finished construction on their Center for Innovation, which includes a Culinary Arts Teaching Kitchen. The commercial kitchen was built in response to the food insecurity crisis in Oceanside as well as Oceanside’s rapidly expanding culinary and hospitality industries.
 
Through the Culinary Arts & Workforce Development Program, BGCO will provide cooking and hospitality classes to teens in Oceanside. Teens will learn about kitchen safety, nutrition and basic cooking skills. In addition, guest chefs will visit the Club to talk about their career trajectories, answering any questions teens might have about working in the restaurant industry.
 
At the conclusion of the program, BGCO will provide a resume workshop and mock interviews to help youth become job-ready. BGCO will then connect youth with local businesses, fulfilling Oceanside’s need for qualified restaurant and hospitality workers and helping teens secure their very first job. Participants will also receive wrap-around support to ensure they stay in school and make it to the graduation finish line.
 
“We are honored to be selected by the Oceanside Charitable Foundation and are so grateful for their support,” said Jodi Diamond, CEO. “This grant will allow us to purchase much needed kitchen equipment, allowing teens to learn lifelong cooking skills and obtain jobs right here in Oceanside.”
 
If you are a local business who would like to lead a cooking demonstration and/or talk to BGCO teens about the restaurant/hospitality industry, please contact Rhonda Guaderrama or call (760) 433-8920, and visit our website or Facebook page.
 
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside (BGCO) is a youth development organization that is dedicated to providing a safe, fun and enriching environment for youth to spend time during non-school hours. 
Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside is a local, independent organization affiliated with Boys & Girls Clubs of America. BGCO raises 100% of the funds that support our life changing programs through individual giving, events and grants.  100% of those funds stay right here in North County to serve youth in our local communities. 
We continue to uphold our mission: To inspire, develop and enrich young people to reach their fullest potential as confident, responsible, caring members of society.
 
About Oceanside Charitable Foundation  
The Oceanside Charitable Foundation, a proud affiliate of The San Diego Foundation,  supports nonprofits, projects and programs dedicated to improving the lives of those who live in the community.