Chef Marcus Samuelsson And Mark Weiss Named Board Co-Chairmen Of Careers Through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)

Today, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) named Marcus Samuelsson, internationally acclaimed chef, restaurateur and author, as Co-Chairman of the Board of Directors with Mark Weiss, Chief Investment Officer of RFR Holdings. C-CAP Founder Richard Grausman, who previously held the Chairman position, will continue as Chairman Emeritus. The Board's transition will set the course for the future of C-CAP, which in 2015 marked 25 years of preparing underserved high school students across the country for college and careers in the food service and hospitality industry.

"Having Marcus and Mark as a dynamic team will ensure that C-CAP will grow in new ways and continue to nurture the next generation of great chefs," said Grausman. "Marcus has supported C-CAP's students and alumni since our early years, and it's been inspiring to watch his passion for our work grow. Mark's knowledge of the restaurant industry coupled with his passion for C-CAP and his successful fundraising efforts will be invaluable assets as we look to expand our programming."

"It's been amazing to witness and be a part of the important work done by Richard and C-CAP. Doors have been opened for minorities and underserved youth to succeed and career dreams have come true for so many talented students and their families," said Samuelsson. "Working in hospitality can be incredibly challenging and can seem never-ending, but C-CAP provides a roadmap for these young talents, guiding them along the way. I'm truly humbled for this opportunity to make C-CAP my philanthropic focus and to help transform lives through the culinary arts."

C-CAP also announced that board memberJeffrey B. Samuels, Partner at Paul, Weiss, Rifkind, Wharton & Garrison LLP, is joining Tim Zagat, Co-Founder of Zagat, as Co-Vice Chairman.

About Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)
Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is a national non-profit that was founded by Richard Grausman in 1990. The program transforms the lives of at-risk students through the culinary arts, preparing and guiding them for college and careers in the restaurant and hospitality industry. For the past 25 years, C-CAP has provided job training and internships, scholarships, teacher training, cooking competitions, college and career advising and product and equipment donations. C-CAP has awarded over $46 million in scholarships through the largest independent culinary scholarship program in the U.S., and classrooms nationwide have received nearly $3.4 million worth of supplies and equipment. Through C-CAP's efforts, a large percentage of its students find rewarding careers in the foodservice and hospitality industry with many alumni, now graduates of top culinary schools working in leading restaurants and hotels throughout the country. For more information, visitwww.ccapinc.org and follow C-CAP on twitter @ccapinc.

About Marcus Samuelsson
As the youngest person to ever receive a three-star review from The New York Times, chef Samuelsson has won multiple James Beard Foundation Awards including Best Chef: New York City, and was tasked with planning and executing the Obama Administration's first State dinner. He was crowned champion of television shows Top Chef Masters and Chopped All Stars, serves as a mentor on ABC's The Taste and stars in FYI's The Feed. Marcus is co-producer of Harlem EatUp!, a food and culture festival which debuted in Harlem in May 2015. He is the author of The New York Times bestselling memoir Yes, Chef, which was recently adapted into the young adult memoir Make It Messy, which encourages young people to embrace their mistakes and follow their dreams. He is also the author of several cookbooks including his newest, Marcus Off Duty: The Recipes I Cook At Home (October 2014). In spring 2015, Samuelsson opened his second Harlem restaurant, Streetbird Rotisserie, a kitchenette.

SOURCE Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP)