FLAVORTOWN, USA, May 11, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nacho-loving
rivals Guy Fieri and Bill Murray are teaming up for a "Nacho Average
Showdown" virtual nacho-making competition to raise awareness and
donations for the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund (RERF). The live
event will provide some laughs and raise funds for America's
restaurant workers facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19
crisis. Currently, eight million restaurant workers are
unemployed.*
RERF was created by industry icon, Guy
Fieri, chef and host of the Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins
and Dives, and the National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation (NRAEF). The Fund provides restaurant workers with
$500 grants, and 100 percent of all
donations go directly to RERF.
The "Nacho Average Showdown" presented by Tostitos is sure to
include off-the-wall humor and friendly banter between Fieri and
Murray. Their sons, Hunter Fieri,
and Chef & Restaurateur Homer Murray will also do battle to
show their dads the secret to making perfect nachos. Each
competitor will create his signature nachos for "Showdown" judges
Terry Crews and Shaquille O'Neal. Food Network host Carla Hall will emcee the event. Viewers will be
encouraged to contribute to RERF via the donate button on Food
Network's Facebook page.
RERF supporters such as Ecolab, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Tyson
Foods, Modelo Negra and Food Network are also sponsoring the "Nacho
Average Showdown," and Uber Eats will be the official delivery
partner. To date, more than 50 companies and organizations have
helped raise over $22 million for
RERF.
"My entire career has been in the restaurant business," said
Fieri. "From bussing tables to flambe captain to dishwasher to
chef... I have done it all. I've also spent the better part of the
last 15 years traveling this great country meeting other folks
who've dedicated their lives to this business, and let me tell you
something, they are the hardest working, most real deal workers
you've ever met... the heartbeats of their communities. But they
need our help and with the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund, we can
serve up some support when these restaurant employees need it
most... right now."
"The 'Nacho Average Showdown' is all about generating awareness
and financial relief for the restaurant workers across the nation
who are hurting and out of work," said Marissa Solis, SVP of marketing, Frito-Lay North
America. "Tostitos and PepsiCo are proud to put our support behind
this cause and are so grateful for partners like Guy and Bill for
helping make this event a success."
"During these challenging times, the NRAEF's mission to support
the industry's workforce is more important than ever," said
Rob Gifford, NRAEF president. "With
Guy as our champion, stars like Bill, Carla, Shaq and Terry and the
support of so many generous companies, we can help get our family
of restaurant workers back on their feet, and back to building
their futures in this industry of limitless opportunities."
*Source – National Restaurant Association - 2020
**********************
About the National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation (NRAEF)
As the philanthropic foundation of the
National Restaurant Association, the National Restaurant
Association Educational Foundation's mission of service to the
public is dedicated to enhancing the industry's training and
education, career development and community engagement efforts. The
NRAEF and its programs work to Attract, Empower and Advance today's
and tomorrow's restaurant and foodservice workforce. NRAEF programs
include: ProStart® – a high-school culinary arts and
restaurant management career and technical education program.
Restaurant Ready – partnering with community-based
organizations to provide opportunity youth and justice-involved
individuals with skills training and job opportunities.
Military – helping military servicemen and women transition
their skills to restaurant and foodservice careers.
Scholarships – financial assistance for students pursuing
restaurant, foodservice and hospitality degrees. Hospitality
Sector Registered Apprenticeship project – a
partnership with the American Hotel & Lodging Association
providing a hospitality apprenticeship program for the industry.
For more information on the NRAEF, visit ChooseRestaurants.org.
About Tostitos
Tostitos is one of many Frito-Lay
North America brands – the $16
billion convenient foods division of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:
PEP), which is headquartered in Purchase,
NY. Learn more about Frito-Lay at the corporate website,
http://www.fritolay.com, the Snack Chat blog,
http://www.snacks.com and on Twitter
http://www.twitter.com/fritolay.
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SOURCE National Restaurant Association Educational
Foundation