Asheville Independent Restaurants to award $10,000 in culinary scholarships at A-B Tech

Jason Sandford

Jason Sandford is a reporter, writer, blogger and photographer interested in all things Asheville.

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Press release here:

Asheville Independent Restaurants, a growing group of over 65 privately owned restaurants dedicated to the local economy, local philanthropies and local businesses and farmers, is awarding funding for five culinary scholarships at Asheville Buncombe Technical College.

The $5,000 gift – the first installment of a $10,000 gift commitment — will pay tuition for five students in the college’s renowned culinary program in 2011. The second gift will be awarded by the end of 2011.

“This is a substantial gift for many of our students,” said AIR Board Member Sheila Tillman, who is also Associate Dean of Hospitality Education at A-B Tech. “We are grateful to the independent restaurants for their efforts to support our culinary school.”

The culinary prizes, named AIR’s Chefs of Tomorrow Scholarships, are the organization’s principle fundraising effort, supported primarily by sale of the AIR Passports (a coupon booklet worth nearly $1200 in dining savings) and by AIR’s annual Taste of Asheville event. The 2011 Taste of Asheville event will be held November 17 at The Venue.

To purchase an AIR Passport and for more information about the organization, visit www.airasheville.org  Passports are also available at the Asheville Convention Visitors Bureau.