The Baton Rouge Epicurean Society (BRES) has announced more than $120,000 in charitable donations to local nonprofit organizations, reinforcing its long-standing commitment to improving childhood nutrition, health, education, and food security throughout the Greater Baton Rouge area.

The funds were raised through BRES’s 2025 “culinary for a cause” events, including Crawfête, Fête Rouge, and the Society’s Annual Awards Dinner, along with the generous support of local sponsors and community partners. Each event brings together Baton Rouge’s culinary community with a shared goal: using food as a vehicle for meaningful impact.

“These donations represent the collective effort of our chefs, restaurants, sponsors, attendees, and partners,” said Yvette Bonanno, Past President of the Board of the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society. “Together, we are able to support organizations that are making a real difference in the lives of children and families across our region.”

2025 Donation Recipients

This year’s funding supports a diverse group of organizations addressing food insecurity, wellness, education, and youth development:

• Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank – $45,000
  The donation supports the Food Bank’s Backpack Program for Student Success, which provides weekend meal kits to more than 3,000 K-12 students across eight parishes. Each weekly kit includes breakfasts, lunches, and snacks to ensure children have access to nutritious food outside of school hours.
• FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Children’s Health Weight & Nutrition Center – $20,000
  Funds help sustain family-focused wellness programs, including weekly Family Wellness Wednesdays, pediatric nutrition education, and the CHOMP elective for pediatric residents—an innovative program blending healthcare and hands-on cooking to address obesity and food insecurity.
• BREADA ‘Red Stick Sprouts’ Children’s Program – $15,000
  For more than six years, BRES has supported this program empowering children to make healthy food choices at local farmers markets. In 2025 alone, more than 2,500 children received Sprouts Tokens to purchase fresh produce, with thousands more engaged through field trips and market activities.
• ProStart Louisiana (Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation) – $15,000
  ProStart prepares high school students for careers in culinary arts and restaurant management through education, mentorship, certifications, and work experience. The program serves more than 2,000 students in 65+ schools statewide.
• Knock Knock Children’s Museum – $10,000
  Funding supports the Museum’s Garden Program and the expansion of the Adventuresome Eating Club, where children learn about fresh foods through hands-on gardening, cooking demonstrations, and tasting experiences that build confidence and early learning skills.
• CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) – $10,000
  BRES’s donation funded grocery assistance for 50 foster families, helping ease the burden of rising food costs while CASA volunteers continue advocating for children navigating foster care and the court system.
• Girls on the Run South Louisiana – $5,000
  Support from BRES provided healthy snacks and running shoes for participants in the 10-week Girls on the Run program, reinforcing the connection between nutrition, confidence, and physical activity.

Continuing the Mission Through Food and Community

The Baton Rouge Epicurean Society, a 501(c)(3) organization made up of local chefs, restaurateurs, caterers, and food and beverage professionals, continues to build on its mission by bringing the community together through food-focused events that give back.

That mission will be on full display again this spring at Crawfête, one of BRES’s signature fundraisers.

Crawfête Returns March 22

Crawfête takes place Sunday, March 22, 2026, from 2–5 PM at Live Oak at Cedar Lodge, a scenic setting beneath majestic live oaks and home to Arabian horses in the heart of Baton Rouge.

The event features a lively boiled crawfish and gourmet crawfish dish competition, with “Best Boiled Crawfish” and “Best Crawfish Dish” awards judged by both community and celebrity judges. Guests can expect expertly boiled crawfish, creative crawfish-inspired dishes from local favorites, cocktails, mocktails, local beer, and live music throughout the afternoon.

New this year, Crawfête offers children’s tickets for ages 5–12, making it a family-friendly spring outing, while VIP tickets provide an elevated, adults-only experience with open bar access, premium seating near the music, and exclusive perks.

From the plate to the people it serves, Crawfête embodies what the Baton Rouge Epicurean Society does best: celebrating the city’s culinary talent while creating lasting impact for children and families across the region.