Millions in Direct Assistance, Small Business Support and Workforce Investment Reinforce CRF’s Commitment to California’s Food & Beverage Community
The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF), a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening California’s restaurant community for 45 years, closed 2025 with a year of extraordinary impact, delivering urgent relief, reinforcing resilience and investing in the future of the state’s food and beverage workforce. Through Restaurants Care, CRF’s multifaceted relief initiative, the organization provided millions in direct assistance, earned national recognition and deepened its role as a critical support system for hospitality workers and independent operators statewide.
“The California Restaurant Foundation exists to provide stability and opportunity for the people and businesses that power California’s restaurant industry,” said Alycia Harshfield, President of CRF. “In 2025, that mission took on even greater urgency as we delivered immediate relief and long-term investment, supporting hospitality workers, independent operators and future leaders through a year marked by extraordinary challenge and meaningful recovery. As we look ahead to our 45th year, we remain focused on building resilience, opportunity and a stronger future for the industry we serve.”
Emergency Relief & Disaster Recovery
In January, as catastrophic wildfires tore through Los Angeles, displacing families, shuttering businesses and upending livelihoods, Restaurants Care mobilized swiftly to support the food and beverage workers most affected by the Eaton and Palisades Fires. The organization delivered emergency grants to hospitality workers facing sudden job loss, housing displacement and financial instability. In the three months following the fires, Restaurants Care continued to provide direct emergency assistance to 953 hospitality workers, followed by an additional $278,000 in housing stability grants distributed in August to help sustain recovery efforts. In total, more than $1.2 million was distributed directly to workers impacted by the fires.
Recognizing that a healthy restaurant sector is essential to Los Angeles’ long-term recovery, Restaurants Care also invested in independent restaurants serving as economic anchors to the fire-affected communities. The program awarded $10,000 LA Fire Recovery grants to 253 independent restaurants and food trucks across Los Angeles County. Together, these businesses employ more than 3,100 people, underscoring the vital role independent operators play in sustaining jobs, tourism and neighborhood vitality during times of crisis and rebuilding.
Industry Leadership & Fundraising Impact
2025 also marked a milestone year for Restaurants Care with the presentation of its inaugural Heart of Hospitality Award to Guy Fieri, honoring his decades-long commitment to supporting restaurant workers through scholarships, disaster relief and culinary training. Fieri accepted the award at Restaurants Care’s annual Grateful Table dinner, the organization’s signature fundraising event. The evening brought together 200 foodservice leaders from across the industry and raised a record-breaking $289,000 to support hospitality relief efforts.
Further strengthening community connection and support, Restaurants Care introduced Grateful at the Greek, a one-night-only fundraising event at the iconic Greek Theatre. The Los Angeles restaurant community came together for an evening of connection, celebration and giving back, featuring a backstage tour of the legendary venue and a live performance by Nash Overstreet. The event raised critical funds in support of Restaurants Care’s mission and underscored the collective power of the hospitality industry when it comes together to support its own.
Long-Term Stability for Independent Restaurants
In 2025, Restaurants Care celebrated the fifth anniversary of the Restaurants Care Resilience Fund, a cornerstone initiative supporting independent restaurants statewide. Since its inception, the Resilience Fund has distributed $11 million through 2,088 grants, helping independent restaurants, caterers and food trucks to invest in their teams, upgrade equipment and strengthen long-term stability. These grants have supported businesses across 50 California counties, benefiting more than 26,500 employees, with nearly 90 percent of recipients being single-unit operators. In 2025 alone, 231 independent establishments received Resilience Fund grants.
Investing in the Next Generation
CRF continued to advance culinary education statewide through its support of ProStart®, a nationally recognized career and education program that prepares high school students for careers in hospitality. In 2025, CRF hosted educator training conferences across California, equipping 40 ProStart educators with industry-informed instruction, hands-on training and classroom resources that will elevate student learning and workforce readiness.
Through Experience Hospitality Week and Force In Training (FIT) Day, more than 4,000 students gained direct exposure to hospitality career pathways. These immersive experiences included exclusive tours of hospitality venues and headquarters, along with 55 in-person workshops led by industry professionals focused on job readiness, financial literacy and early career success.
CRF further expanded access to higher education by awarding $177,650 in co-branded college scholarships to 83 students, while four students were selected for the ProStart Executive Mentorship Program, pairing them with industry leaders for hands-on leadership development. California’s ProStart programs also earned national recognition at the 2025 National ProStart Invitational, with San Dimas High School placing first place in the culinary competition and Orange County School of the Arts securing third place in restaurant management.
A Comprehensive Approach to Industry Resilience
Together, these efforts reflect CRF’s comprehensive approach to strengthening California’s restaurant community, addressing immediate needs while investing in long-term resilience and opportunity. As the industry continues to evolve, the California Restaurant Foundation remains focused on delivering targeted relief, developing future talent and ensuring the people and small businesses at the heart of hospitality have the support they need to succeed.
The California Restaurant Foundation (CRF) is a nonprofit dedicated to empowering California’s restaurant community. Since 1981, CRF has provided critical support to restaurant workers facing hardship, delivered job and life skills training to 14,500 high school students and awarded scholarships to future hospitality leaders. By investing in people, CRF ensures that California’s restaurant industry continues to thrive while fostering opportunity, resilience and growth.
For more information about the California Restaurant Foundation or Restaurants Care, please visit CalRestFoundation.org.