Henderson, Nev. – Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos’ Culinary Director Scott Pajak cooked a free breakfast for more than 550 students and teachers at Robert L. Taylor ES in Henderson, as part of Chefs for Kids’ “Cookin’ Up Breakfast” program on Thursday, October 6. The kids and staff enjoyed delicious, scrambled eggs, turkey sausage patties, hash brown potatoes and fruit; as well as assorted juices, milk and water.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with Chefs for Kids to provide a free, nutritious breakfast for kids in our community and their hardworking teachers and school staff,” said Pajak. “It’s extremely rewarding to see the kids’ faces light up when they know they’re about to have a delicious, warm breakfast.”
Many hands help execute the Cookin’ Up Breakfast program including special partnerships from volunteer organizations that help supply, cook, and serve the food, such as the Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos.
“Chefs for Kids is extremely grateful to Chef Scott Pajak and the entire team at Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos for cooking up this delicious breakfast,” said Hekili Apao, Chairman at Chefs for Kids. “As the saying goes, it takes a village, and we couldn’t do our important work without them and the many other community organizations that support our program.”
In addition to Emerald Island and Rainbow Club Casinos, Levi Strauss & Co. and ACF Chefs Las Vegas also provided volunteers to help serve the food. Schools chosen to receive the breakfast program, also receive a nutrition education program provided by Chefs for Kids partner, University of Nevada, Reno Extension. For years, Anderson Dairy has donated the milk for the breakfast, and Hospitality Culinaire Inc. has provided fresh Jamba Juice smoothies for kids to enjoy. The entire program for 2022 has been partially underwritten through a generous partnership from MGM Resorts International.
The organization is looking for more culinary partners to provide food donations and kitchen space for preparing the meals. Companies interested in learning more are encouraged to email donations@chefsforkids.org.