Skip to main content

Hope for Youth Foundation Donates $10,000 to HVHC's Young Chefs Program

Feb 11, 2014

Cortlandt Manor, NY

The Hope for Youth Foundation has donated $10,000 to NewYork-Presbyterian/Hudson Valley Hospital to support a new program that uses cooking to teach youngsters about healthy eating in the battle against childhood obesity.

A man handing a check to another man

The Young Chefs of the Hudson Valley offers weekly cooking classes to at-risk children ages 11-13 in area school districts. Parents can also sign their children up for small group classes. The program, run by trained chefs and dietitians on staff at HVHC, aims to improve the health of children and reduce the risks of obesity. It is one of several community classes for all ages being taught in the Hospital’s new Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen.

"We are grateful to Jim Witt and the Hope for Youth Foundation who have for many years generously supported programs at our Hospital that are aimed at improving the lives of young people," said Hudson Valley Hospital President John C. Federspiel. "Teaching the value of healthy eating can never start early enough if we are to stem the tide of chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes and heart disease."

The Hope for Youth Foundation/Peekskill Rotary Club (HFY) donates money to area children's charities. HFY assists children who are mentally and/or physically challenged, or who are ill or disadvantaged and supports youth programs which facilitate healthy growth whether it is academic, emotional or athletic. The Foundation’s principle source of revenue is the annual sale of weatherman Jim Witt’s Long Range Weather Calendar, which is known for its dramatic Hudson Valley photographs and its daily and long range weather forecasts.

The kitchen is part of the Hospital’s Harvest for Health program, a multi-faceted program featuring an organic garden, Farmers’ Market and Hospital food service that uses locally grown produce. The kitchen is named in honor of "Iron Chef" winner, Chef Peter X. Kelly, who has been integral in its development.

For more information about Harvest for Health and to sign up for classes in the Chef Peter X. Kelly Teaching Kitchen, visit hvhc.npgdev.com or call 914-734-3780.