our mission

  • The primary goal of The Tomaso Maggiore Culinary Arts Foundation is to raise the level of Professionalism and Excellence in all aspects of culinary industry in this Valley.  The foundation hopes to achieve this through funding education, internships/externships, and international immersion programs.

  • The Foundation will support those individuals aspiring to become Chefs, Hospitality Managers, and current Maggiore team members, who meet the criteria, to pursue certification and degree programs through accredited institutions. By providing scholarships to students pursuing accredited certification and degree programs in Culinary Arts the Foundation hopes to ensure its goal will become a reality.

Our Impact on the Culinary Landscape in the Valley

  • The Foundation will focus on developing educational partnerships to act as the conduit for the funds raised for scholarships and certification programs.

  • In Spring of 2023, The Tomaso Maggiore Culinary Arts Foundation awarded scholarships that have benefited 3 graduating C-Cap students in the valley and 2 full year scholarships to an incoming Junior and incoming Senior at NAU.

  • In the spring of 2024, the Foundation plans what will be the first of an annual Gala, to promote the Culinary Arts in the Valley, with the proceeds going to further fund the educational initiatives of the Foundation.

our partnerships

Mission Statement: Northern Arizona University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management prepares socially responsible, culturally aware students for success in an ever-changing, global hospitality industry through rigorous academic programs informed by faculty research and meaningful industry engagement.

Vision Statement: Northern Arizona University’s School of Hotel and Restaurant Management aspires to be recognized as a premier hospitality leadership school providing student-centered, multi-culturally focused, and innovative academic experiences both in person and through distance learning programs. The school further aspires to become a center for hospitality education: a community where students, faculty, staff, alumni, and industry professionals connect to advance knowledge about the hospitality industry throughout their careers.

The Culinary Arts Program at Scottsdale Community College is recognized as one of the top colleges in the Southwest U.S. for Culinary Arts and Commercial Baking. Our hands-on programs and student run restaurant make our program distinct and acclaimed. The SCC Culinary Arts program is accredited by the American Culinary Federation and is aligned with industry standards and current market trends that prepare graduates for real-world applications. Featuring a 2-semester program that is one of its kind in Arizona.

The Culinary Arts Program at SCC has produced industry professionals for over 30 years, and we are continuing to evolve and develop new standards of excellence in Culinary Arts education.

Our hands-on curriculum provides students with classical cooking techniques and knife skills within SCC’s 10,000 square-foot kitchen.

Long co-chaired by chef Marcus Samuelsson, Careers through Culinary Arts Program (C-CAP) is a workforce development nonprofit that provides underserved teens a pathway to success.

Annually, C-CAP provides culinary, job and life skills to over 20,000 middle-and-high school students in seven regions across the United States: New York City, Newark, Philadelphia and Camden, Chicago, Los Angeles, Washington DC/Maryland/Northern Virginia and Arizona.

Starting in middle schools, C-CAP provides culinary-and-wellness curriculum. In high schools, it provides an integrated approach to employment in the food sector via internships/apprenticeships, job shadows, mentorship, and work opportunities, college and career advising, and higher-education scholarships, along with product and food donations. According to the administrators, “The success of our alumni is proof of our methodology and the work we have done. To date, we have worked with 350,000 students and awarded $66 million in scholarships. C-CAP has transformed thousands of lives in a meaningful way. The urgency to help these diverse communities has never been more critical.”

Emersion Programs

Top Chef Italy: Study abroad program taught by top Italian chefs who between them have 52 Michelin Stars.  This will be a certification program.

Study abroad programs integrated with the NAU partnership in other European Countries, are currently under development and the Maggiore group will be active on the advisory board as these levels of development are created.

Foundation Award Recipients

  • $1,500 Julio Molina, Flagstaff High School

  • $1,500 Nikole Parra, Glendale High School

  • $1,500 Dartagnan Gomez, Corona del Sol High School

  • $10,000 NAU Junior, TBD

  • $10,000 NAU Senior, TBD