Chef Eric Ripert Projects $100,000 Donation to 'City Harvest', Charity of the Day

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed)
Jan 16th 2009 at 10:02AM

Known as the first food rescue organization in the world, City Harvest pledges to bring fresh produce and other local foods to the hungry of NYC. Over the past twenty-five years they have been instrumental in providing high quality food to needy individuals expecting to rescue and deliver twenty-three millions pounds of excess food in 2009 which is a million pounds more than last year. Many city restaurants, corporate cafeterias and food vendors are already committed to the cause by donating unwanted and surplus food items to City Harvest but on Tuesday a particularly esteemed venue made a significant pledge.

Gallery: Le Bernardin Supports City Harvest

Chef Eric Ripert (Le Bernardin), Driver Dave Marshall, and Jilly Stephens (Executive Director of City Harvest)

Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest, and Chef Eric Ripert, Le Bernardin

Eric Ripert of Le Bernardin, an internationally acclaimed four-star seafood restaurant in Midtown Manhattan, announced Tuesday his plans to donate $1 for each patron who visits his restaurant in 2009 to City Harvest. Whether patrons dine at Le Bernardin, the private rooms at The Salons, or purchase a copy of Ripert's new cookbook On The Line, the estimated donation expected at year-end is $100,000. This exceeds his current commitment to City Harvest's food rescue including items from his restaurant such as fish, vegetables, fruit and pastries as well as volunteering his time and talent to their cause.

Jilly Stephens, Executive Director of City Harvest, spoke to the current state of affairs stating "one out of every seven people in New York City will access emergency food this year". Each week City Harvest helps over 260,000 hungry New Yorkers find their next meal and with Chef Ripert's outstanding support the impact of this necessary organization will surely grow. When asked his reasons for making such a giving gesture, Chef Ripert stated, "Our goal is simple: to help alleviate hunger at a time when the city needs it most".

Tags: chef eric ripert, chef ripert, ChefEricRipert, ChefRipert, city harvest, CityHarvest, eric ripert, EricRipert, food rescue, FoodRescue, jilly stephens, JillyStephens, le bernardin, LeBernardin, on the line, on the line book, on the line cookbook, OnTheLine, OnTheLineBook, OnTheLineCookbook, the salons, TheSalons

Filed under: Charity of the Day

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Sara K. Jan 16th 2009 9:41PM

I put myself on the City Harvest email list, we live in Denver. I hope we can help them from here, what a great Organization. As usual you keep it interesting, I'll keep telling my friends about you. thanx, Sara K.

Laura_Malesich Jan 18th 2009 7:20PM

Thanks Sara for your comment. City Harvest is doing some incredible things and I have heard that other cities have modeled their efforts...maybe Denver has a similar organization too! Hope you keep enjoying our posts on Luxist!

Diana Jan 18th 2009 7:14PM

This is great, Eric is in the forefront of what other "Restaurateurs" will begin to do. It's nice to see people are trying to be creative in a time that is so hard for everyone. One dollar per person doesn't seem like much but it will sure go a long way to help. Can't wait to read more about this.

Laura_Malesich Jan 18th 2009 7:20PM

Thanks Diana! Chef Ripert does hope that his actions will motivate other restaurants to evaluate how they can do more for the city's hungry. Hope you continue to enjoy our posts on Luxist! :)