Update: Officials with the John V. Roach Honors College are working to reschedule the visit of Chef José Andrés after he canceled to help with hurricane relief efforts in North Carolina.
Andrés’ World Central Kitchen has been on the ground in North Carolina since Helene left a trail of devastation from Florida’s Big Bend and all the way to the southern Appalachians.
WCK has been working shoulder-to-shoulder with local communities to blanket the devastated region of Asheville, North Carolina with much-needed aid. The organization has sent dozens of full, 6,200-gallon tanker trucks providing drinking water for families who were facing acute water shortage due to infrastructure damage. The trucks are capable of providing up to 100,000 gallons a day. This water source has been a lifeline to Asheville and surrounding communities in the Appalachian area.
WCK has also partnered with 35 food trucks offering free meals to civilians. There were 24 trucks in Florida, eight in Georgia and three in Tennessee.
For those who were stranded when roads and bridges were destroyed by Helene, WCK used two helicopters to deliver food that was then carried by ATV, truck or foot to final destinations. These “last-mile” deliveries ensure that the organization can reach everyone who needs nourishment.
The Honors College continues to be excited for Andrés to visit TCU as the Fogelson Honors Forum speaker. The committee is currently working with his team to reschedule the visit.
Continue reading to learn more about the event.
Nobel Peace Prize nominee Chef José Andrés set to speak at TCU
Nobel Peace Prize nominee Chef José Andrés is the featured speaker for this year’s Fogelson Honors Forum, hosted by The John V. Roach Honors College.
Andrés founded World Central Kitchen (WCK) in 2010, a global organization that provides chef-prepared meals to communities affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises. To date, WCK has served over 400 million meals worldwide.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Andrés is often credited with introducing the small plate dining concept to America. His company, the José Andrés Group, operates nearly 40 restaurants in the United States and internationally, boasting two Michelin stars and four Bib Gourmands.
Andrés has earned numerous accolades, including several James Beard Awards. In 2015, he was awarded the National Humanities Medal, which was presented at a White House ceremony in 2016 in recognition of his work with World Central Kitchen.
Annually, the Honors College asks students and core faculty in a recommendation survey to come up with a list for securing a potential speaker. Through those recommendations and working with a speaker bureau, Andrés jumped out as a great opportunity to bring to campus, Dr. Ronald Pitcock, the dean of the Honors College, said.
“We want people at TCU – students, faculty, staff – and people of the community to come together to hear from a person of eminence,” Pitcock said. “We want everyone to have the opportunity to hear the experiences and ideas of someone who’s using their talents and skills to address the most wicked problems that are happening right now in the world.”
World Central Kitchen’s International Efforts
World Central Kitchen has been feeding people in Ukraine, Gaza and Israel. WCK briefly shut down operations in Gaza this past spring after seven workers were killed in a demilitarized zone.
The team was traveling in two armored cars and a soft-skinned vehicle marked with the WCK logo. The convoy was struck as it was departing from the Deir al-Balah warehouse, where they had just delivered over 100 tons of humanitarian food aid to Gaza. The attack occurred despite the organization’s coordination of their movements with the Israeli Defense Forces.
WCK arrived in Ukraine shortly after the city of Kherson was liberated on Nov. 11, 2022. Working with local restaurant partners, they have served more than 178 million meals so far.
Most recently, in June, the WCK relief team traveled to villages that lost water supply after a seizure from Russian forces. Their work restored access to fresh water to 2,000 people.
The Annual Fogelson Honors Forum
The Fogelson Honors Forum event is made possible through the endowed fund provided by Buddy Fogelson and Greer Garson which has funded other Fogelson Honors Forums for decades.
“Universities are amazing places because we get to study and live in a world of wonder and discovery,” Pitcock said. “We also need moments of inspiration. Having the opportunity to hear from someone like José Andrés offers people an incredible moment of potential inspiration.”
José Andrés’s visit to campus has inspired students in the Honors College community service group to organize a food drive, with donations going to a local relief organization.
Andrés is scheduled to speak at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 2, in the Brown-Lupton University Union ballroom.
