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Asheville Independent Restaurants believe in giving back to our region, including assuming leadership roles in our community. We work collaboratively with many other organizations in town – from philanthropic to business to tourism – and are committed to ongoing support of the many things we love about Asheville.
AIR’s Foundation supports culinary scholarships at Asheville-Buncombe Technical College, which boasts one of the best culinary schools around. AIR has contributed 6 $1000.00 Chefs of Tomorrow Scholarships at AB Tech including the current one. Our goal is to increase the number by two-fold in 2011.
We are also at work on another initiative called The Community Diner. This effort would provide job training in our industry for those in our community seeking to re-enter the workforce. The Diner will also showcase the combined skills and talents of all of our members who will play active roles in program development and training.
Read More >>When our community has a need for a fundraiser, chances are good you will see AIR as part of the team. We help many organizations and causes with their events because we believe that’s part of being a good neighbor. We try to work with every fundraiser to maximize benefits for the cause or organization. One of the best ways for non-profits to do this is to request catering quotes from AIR and/or AIR members and then identify a non-restaurant business to sponsor the catering expense.
Of course, we can’t be everything to everyone all the time. So we have developed an application for organizations who would like AIR’s help. HYPERLINK We try to review requests on a monthly basis, so please build in the time for us to evaluate your application.
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While it’s not always easy being green, it’s always the right thing. So we have a committee dedicated to researching and sharing best practices with our membership and sponsors in regards to environmentally sound restaurant management. From packaging to composting to recycling, our Green Team is determined to help all of us be mindful of what we can each do to keep Asheville as green as it can be. For more information on our green initiatives, contact randy.talley@greensage.com
Read More >>Our partnerships and programs for fighting childhood obesity.
AIR also partnered recently with EarthFare to help students across Buncombe and Henderson Counties learn about healthy eating. AIR chefs have created special menu items (which now live on our menus) and have done cooking demonstrations at the grocery stores since August 2010. A competition among different grade ranges will win several classes a trip to one of our restaurants and a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to prepare nutritious food with a healthy lifestyle in mind.
Visit Earth Fare >>Several AIR members are also partnering with Mission Hospital’s Lighten Up For Life initiative to encourage families to pay attention together to the foods they eat and to the physical activity they all need to stay healthy. AIR has developed menus and recipes for the LU4L website as well as helped Mission in creating on-line video segments with some of our chefs regarding nutrition and great-tasting food.
Visit Lighten Up for Life >>When First Lady Michelle Obama invited chefs from across the country to join together with her Chefs Move To Schools initiative in an effort to battle childhood obesity, our board member Laurey Masterton was on the White House front lawn. Laurey brought back her energy and enthusiasm and has instigated community-wide support for chefs in our schools.
Visit Lets Move >>