We’re thrilled to announce that for a fourth year, we've teamed up with Kraft Heinz and Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice to give out grants to food business owners across the country. It's more important than ever to support those who are preserving and sharing Black culinary traditions nationwide, and we're grateful for the opportunity to continue this work.

Applications close 9/15/24

The LEE Initiative is an acronym for Let’s Empower Employment. When we see a need for more diversity, equity, sustainability and compassion in the restaurant industry, we find innovative and impactful solutions. We create programs that make a real difference in the lives of the next generation of restaurant industry professionals. We help our community and inspire others to get involved.

Check out our impact map

We need your help!

Women Culinary & Spirits Program: This program brings qualified women into the restaurant industry and equips them with new skills, powerful mentors in the industry.

Women Culinary & Spirits Program: This program brings qualified women into the restaurant industry and equips them with new skills, powerful mentors in the industry.

Restaurant Workers Relief Program: This program supports pandemic relief and restaurant rebuilding efforts and will directly benefit restaurant employees.

Restaurant Workers Relief Program: This program supports pandemic relief and restaurant rebuilding efforts and will directly benefit restaurant employees.

Restaurant Reboot Relief Program: We provide cash infusions to sustainable farmers to allow independent restaurants to purchase goods to heal the food system.

Restaurant Reboot Relief Program: We provide cash infusions to sustainable farmers to allow independent restaurants to purchase goods to heal the food system.

Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice: We partner with the Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants throughout the South.

Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice: We partner with the Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants throughout the South.

The LEE Initiative's Culinary Education Program: this program addresses gaps in job training and preparedness for high school students and young people in our community.

The LEE Initiative's Culinary Education Program: this program addresses gaps in job training and preparedness for high school students and young people in our community.

The Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch – a special release bourbon created by the community, for the community, to support trade and hospitality partners around the country, only available through LEE.

The Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch – a special release bourbon created by the community, for the community, to support trade and hospitality partners around the country, only available through LEE.