Youth Programs
Education
ProStart
ProStart is a two-year high school culinary arts and restaurant management program.
In California, the CRA Foundation runs the ProStart program in 140 public high schools – reaching 13,500 students. Many of the schools we serve are under-resourced and are in disadvantaged communities.
ProStart allows young people to dream beyond their neighborhood and discover their passions.
CRAF connects the restaurant industry with the classroom to provide unparalleled learning experiences.
CRAF is proud to keep hands-on learning in high schools through field trips, teacher professional development, industry guest speakers, competitions, scholarships and job-training.
learn by doing
Hands-On Learning
The CRA Foundation supports hands-on learning in public high schools. When a school uses the ProStart curriculum, the CRA Foundation provides resources to bring lessons to life!
Career Services for Life
Discovery Days
Job-Readiness Trainings
Professional Development for Teachers
Industry-Backed Certificates
Grants + Equipment for Schools
give back
Get Involved
The CRA Foundation is a non-profit that is 100% supported by our industry partners, charitable organizations, and volunteers. Help the good work continue!
Volunteer
Each year more than 500 volunteers bring lessons to life! Join us. Volunteer opportunities include being a guest speaker, hosting a field trip, supporting events, and being a guest blogger.
Get Your Company involved
Corporate sponsors make our work possible! Consider sponsorships a hybrid philanthropic/marketing opportunity. We offer industry-facing and student-facing sponsorship opportunities.
Making an Impact
from our students
We use restaurants to create tremendous opportunity for young people. Nearly one in three people get their first job in restaurants, and job opportunities within the restaurant industry are expected to increase 9.1% over the next decade. CRAF provides youth the skills, certifications and resources they need to land that all-important first job. While not all ProStart students will end up in the restaurant business, the skills they learn will translate to success in other fields.
Annual Partners
