On January 15, 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida, Chef Joe Randall (Chef Joe Randall’s Cooking School in Savannah, Georgia) announced the official creation of The Edna Lewis Foundation.

“The Foundation is dedicated to honoring, preserving and nurturing African Americans’ culinary heritage and culture,” said Randall, “and to elevating the appreciation of our culinary excellence.” Chef Randall is the newly appointed Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees.

Atlanta is the city chosen for the Foundation’s headquarters, a city that is the de facto capital of the south and where Ms. Lewis spent many of her later years.

The Edna Lewis Foundation Inc. is a 501(c)(3) public charity:
A Georgia non-profit corporation. Donations are tax-deductible to the full extent of the law. Donations to the Edna Lewis Foundation qualify for most corporate matching grant programs. A portion of your donation will be allocated for the administration of the ELF scholarship program.

The Foundation’s Mission Statement:
To revive, preserve and celebrate the rich history of African-American cookery by cultivating a deeper understanding of Southern food and culture in America.

“Food is LIFE”. Every culture, every family, and ultimately every living soul understand the nourishment, love and importance of food. Food goes beyond breakfast, lunch and dinner. Food brings families together; seals business deals, builds friendships, and forms lifetime commitments. While food is for the living, a taste of a beloved family recipe will bring back special memories of a departed loved one.

Foundation endeavors will consist of educational initiatives, food industry awards, an annual national food conference, leadership awards program, culinary scholarships, and publications. In addition to establishing and maintaining The Edna Lewis House in Atlanta, Georgia, as a “performance space” and cooking school for visiting chefs, the Foundation will create a robust online community and host tastings, lectures, workshops, and food-related art exhibits in Atlanta and around the country.

A chef, cookbook author, and teacher, Edna Lewis was a champion of Southern cookery who helped educate and mentor generations of professional chefs and food enthusiasts. The Edna Lewis Foundation will continue this legacy by being at the center of the African-American culinary community and maintaining a dedicated commitment to exploring the way food enriches lives.