About Culinary Futures

Since 2008

Harold Import Company (HIC) has been committed to supporting the cause of providing local youth the opportunity to prepare for college and careers in culinary arts, and beyond.

Realizing there was a need to provide underserved students with job training, life skills, mentoring, and work opportunities, Robert Laub, president of Harold Import Company, envisioned supporting a culinary scholarship program that would enable these youth the opportunity to succeed. By partnering with like-minded organizations, including Les Dames d’Escoffier Atlanta and C-CAP-Chicago, and No Matter What, HIC has been instrumental in helping transform the lives of countless underserved students in these cities.

Atlanta Culinary Futures

In Atlanta, HIC provides support for the annual Les Dames d’Escoffier International-Atlanta (LDEI-Atlanta) Culinary Futures Event. Proceeds from this event provide a needs-based scholarship to one female high school senior pursuing a degree in Culinary Arts, Hospitality, or related fields.

Chicago Culinary Futures

Each year the Chicago Culinary Futures Event brings together countless housewares industry professionals in Chicago for the annual Inspired Home show, to support this wonderful cause. From 2008-2019, HIC’s support has ensured C-CAP Chicago students were awarded more than $500,000 in scholarships.

In 2021, HIC continued its support for Culinary Futures through a new partnership with Chicago-based No Matter What, a 501©(3) not-for-profit started by Culinary Futures Alum Kenneth Griffin, that invests in the youth of the Chicagoland area through mentorship, career readiness training, and mental health healing with a strong emphasis on helping them reach their highest potential No Matter What obstacles they face. Through HIC’s continued support and mentorship of the Culinary Futures scholarship platform, countless recipients build successful careers, both within the culinary field, and outside the industry.