Our members are dedicated to supporting and promoting the achievement of women in the arts of the table and fostering excellence through educational and charitable activities.
Since 1985
We've donated more than $1,500,000.00 to fund endowments,
scholarships, grants and local non profits.
Our first endowment of $5,000.00 was to the culinary program at El Centro, one of the Dallas County Community Colleges. With money raised from fundraising events, the Dallas Chapter of LDEI now has $415,000.00 in permanent endowments, supports a fine beverage library at El Centro, and annually awards money to diverse projects that support the goals of our organization.
Here’s a testimony from one of our recipients, Chef Leslie Moore:
"I was a scholarship recipient of your organization in the late 80's while attending the culinary program at El Centro. Lately I have been relecting on those years and realize I could not have stayed in school but for your scholarship money. It was very timely, to say the least. Thank you so much for enabling me to have a culinary education which has been the foundation of my Private Chef career here in Dallas. It has been a great ride! Thanks again for your kindness and generosity."
-Leslie Moore, Scholarship Recipient
Taste Project is a non-profit organization that provides critical training and valuable hands-on work experience for those who are under-served and food insecure seeking skilled positions in foodservice. Taste Project provides 3 programs:
6-month Certified Fundamental Cook Culinary Pre-Apprenticeship Program for 19-24year olds with 1000 hours paid work experience in the Taste Restaurant, a Department of Labor apprenticeship designation and job placement support.
2-year Sous Chef Apprenticeship Program providing American Culinary Federation Certified Program, 4000 hours paid work experience, Department of Labor apprenticeship designation, guaranteed job placement.
LDEI Dallas donated $2,700 towards a CFC Culinary Pre-Apprenticeship Program for a woman. The program includes a Showcase Dinner, experiential working interviews with local employers and opportunities to pursue additional culinary and leadership skills training.
Founded by former professional sports executive, self-taught chef Michael McCoy, provides meals that reflect dignity and respect to about 1300 North Texans at 34 sober transition shelters, detox centers and sober living homes every month. LDEI Dallas’ donation of $7000 funds a dinner at a shelter dedicated specifically to women in recovery.
Blue Door Kitchen is a space and a workforce development program of the 100 year-old Boys and Girls Club of Greater Tarrant County. LDEI Dallas donated $3000 to fund instructional materials and program expenses of Culinary Connection, a new workforce development initiative which introduces students 13-18 to cooking techniques, knowledge and skills needed to work in a professional kitchen.
The Texas Food and Wine Alliance is an all-volunteer group representing the state-wide culinary scene through one-of-a-kind events and unique grants supporting chefs, wine/beer/spirit makers, culinary business, culinary professionals, farmers and artisan producers whose projects and initiatives show innovation and give back to their communities. LDEI Dallas is supporting this effort in the upcoming year via a $3000 grant to be awarded to a North Texas-based woman-owned business reflecting their mission.
CoAct North Texas is a non-profit social innovation studio creating social and economic opportunities to address disparity in solving complex social challenges in North Texas. In 2024 Les Dames donated $1,000 to support the organization’s efforts to develop marketing and engagement strategies for Tabor Farms and Mind Your Garden Urban Farm that address food insecurity and provide farm supplies and infrastructure and support the Mindful Market.
The LDEI Legacy Awards, supported by The Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts, was established in 2009 to provide targeted mentorship opportunities for professional women in food, fine beverage and hospitality industries. The Dallas Chapter hosted a DFW-area based Culinary Education Award, a five-day encounter in vocational teaching in high school, community college, professional culinary school and university settings and avocational teaching in cooking schools, homes and restaurants in DFW. Our 2024 Award Winner was Melissa Maness, Culinary Instructor at South Tech High School in St. Louis, Missouri.
The Sponsorship Agreement was established between LDEI Dallas and the Dallas College Workforce and Advancement Career Connected Learning and the Dallas College Career Connected Learning providing $25,000 over a 5 year period.
LDEI Patron Program provides recognition at the annual Conference including chapter name in the Conference program and on-screen scroll during opening keynote address and Gala dinner, and other perks. LDEI Dallas donated $2500 towards the Supporting Patron level.