The Jacques Pépin Foundation (JPF) has named Eva’s Village as one of its Winter 2026 Grant Awardees, recognizing the Paterson-based nonprofit for its impactful work in culinary vocational training. Eva’s Village is one of only 20 organizations nationwide to receive the $10,000 grant this round.
The funding will specifically support the “Culinary School at Eva’s Village,” a 20-week program that helps individuals facing barriers to employment—including homelessness, addiction recovery, and justice system involvement—launch careers in the hospitality industry.
While the Culinary School already boasts a 95% job placement rate for its graduates, Eva’s Village plans to use the JPF grant to expand its alumni support system. The initiative will provide a formal structure for graduates to continue their professional growth through:
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Peer and industry mentorship: Connecting new graduates with established professionals.
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Professional development: Workshops focused on advanced culinary techniques and management skills.
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Networking events: Creating a community of alumni to share job leads and industry insights.
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Guest chef sessions: Bringing renowned culinary talent to Paterson for specialized training.
“This investment helps ensure our students not only gain skills, but continue to feel supported, valued, and part of a community long after graduation,” Howard Haughton, CEO of Eva’s Village said.
The Jacques Pépin Foundation was founded in 2016 to honor the legacy of legendary chef Jacques Pépin by supporting community kitchens that use culinary skills to transform lives. Since becoming a grant-making body in 2019, the JPF has distributed nearly $2 million to non-profit training programs across the country.
“By formalizing their alumni support system, graduates from the Eva’s Village Culinary School will gain access to resources that help improve long-term career outcomes,” Rollie Wesen, executive director of the JPF said.
In addition to the financial award, Eva’s Village will receive JPF-branded aprons for its students and a group membership to the Foundation, granting access to a vast library of instructional videos and recipes from world-class chefs.
Eva’s Village is a comprehensive social service organization that provides a “recovery-oriented community” of services. Beyond its culinary school, the organization serves nearly 1,000 meals every day and offers housing, medical care, and addiction treatment across its three-block campus in Paterson.
