Warren G. Bender Co. donation, CRAEF put San Juan grads to work
(SACRAMENTO, Oct. 14, 2011) – Roseville-based insurance brokerage Warren G. Bender Co. is heavily involved with community organizations, and a partnership with the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (CRAEF) has helped boost the culinary and hospitality management program at San Juan High School, including helping three students secure internships at local restaurants, including Chili’s, Marie Callendar’s and Chipotle. The program was a resounding success, with all three students ultimately hired on for their first real permanent jobs.
Recent graduate Daniel Reyes interviewed and was hired for a position at a Chipotle location in Citrus Heights.
“This has really been a great opportunity for all of us,” Reyes said. “My experience in the classroom helped me more than I can even describe. Just being able to walk into the restaurant and already know about food safety, sanitation and knife skills meant that they didn’t really even have to train me once they could see I already had the skills.”
The internships were made possible by a donation from the Warren G. Bender Co., which awarded stipends to the students once they fulfilled a certain number of work hours, as outlined in the program requirements.
“There’s only so much I can do in the classroom, but there’s nothing better than being able to go out in the industry to see what it’s really like,” San Juan culinary instructor Sandi Coulter said. “It is such a tough market, and to know that these restaurants were confident enough in their skills to hire them over people walking in from off the streets really speaks to their skill and professionalism level.”
“Since its founding, our company has taken great pride in finding ways to give back to the community,” said Roland Guillen, a commercial account executive for Warren G. Bender Co. “This was a great chance for us to support CRAEF, and help kids further pursue their passion and dreams.”
About the California Restaurant Association Educational Foundation: CRAEF has awarded more than $1 million in scholarships and grants since its inception in 1981. CRAEF works to enhance education and training programs within the hospitality industry. ProStart is a two-year program designed to prepare high school juniors and seniors for exciting careers in foodservice. For more information, go online at www.craef.org.
About Warren G. Bender Co.: Founded in 1938, and still proudly one of the largest independently owned brokerages in the Sacramento Region, Warren G. Bender Co. and its staff of professionals provide innovative insurance and risk management solutions for its clients throughout the Western states and beyond. For more information, go online at www.wgbender.com.