White House Highlights CKP Director Maureen Roche as a “Champion of Change”

On Thursday, January 12th, eight local leaders who are following in the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr. will be honored at the White House as Champions of Change. These men and women, who include business and non-profit leaders and community volunteers, have each taken great strides to improve the lives of others through volunteerism and in providing economic opportunity to others in their community.

The Champions of Change program was created as a part of President Obama’s Winning the Future initiative. Each week, a different issue is highlighted and groups of Champions, ranging from educators to entrepreneurs to community leaders, are recognized for the work they are doing to better their communities.

Maureen Roche serves as the director of The Campus Kitchens Project, the national program of DC Central Kitchen.  Since 2001, CKP has recovered more than 2 million pounds of food, engaged 45,000 student volunteers and has reinvested millions into the communities where they serve.  Under Maureen’s leadership, the Project has grown 200% since 2008 to 31 college and high school campuses in 20 states which serve 250,000 meals annually. The Campus Kitchens Project is using service as a tool to strengthen bodies, empower minds and build communities across the country.

To watch this event live, visit www.whitehouse.gov/live at 1:30 pm ET January 12^th.

Chili Cook-Off Kicks Off The Campus Kitchens Project Semester of Service

On Friday, January 13, teams of student chefs from five high schools will compete in a chili cook-off to kick start a weekend of service honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Under the guidance of chefs from Marriott Inc., and DC Central Kitchen, the high school chefs from St. Andrews Episcopal High School, Gonzaga College High School, Archbishop Williams High School (Boston, MA), Atlantic City High School (N.J.) and Hospitality High School of Washington, D.C., will compete while producing 150 meals for Bethesda Cares, an organization dedicated to assisting and feeding the homeless in the DC Metro area. Students from the competing schools regularly prepare and distribute food to those in need in their communities through The Campus Kitchens Project.

An all-star line up of judges, including Top Chef Contestant and area restaurateur Spike Mendolsohn, Marriott, Inc. CEO Arne Sorenson, DC Central Kitchen’s President and Founder Robert Egger and DCCK CEO Mike Curtain, will determine the winner.