Sapphire Culinary Group Partners with Project Hope Alliance

Submitted by Sapphire Culinary Group:

Azmin Ghahreman, chef and owner of Sapphire Laguna Restaurant, Sapphire Pantry and founder of Sapphire at School™, today announced a partnership with Orange County-based Project Hope Alliance and a pledge to raise $100,000 for the organization in 2013. Project Hope Alliance (formerly Project HOPE School Foundation) exists to help homeless children and their families reach self-sufficiency through education and financial stability.

The $100,000 pledged by Ghahreman in 2013 will support programs designed to help eliminate the barriers that often prevent homeless students from attending and succeeding in school. The programs also strive to increase family stability by moving homeless families into permanent housing. Funds will be raised using a variety of methods including tapping into the personal relationships that Ghahreman has nurtured since opening Sapphire Laguna restaurant and founding his healthy school lunch program, Sapphire at School™ in 2007.

“Every child deserves a healthy start and the mission of Project Hope Alliance is perfectly in line with my commitment to bettering childhood nutrition, one school at a time,” said Ghahreman.  “Our pledge to raise $100,000 for Orange County’s youth in need is only the beginning for Sapphire Culinary Group’s budding relationship with Project Hope Alliance; with more than 28,000 homeless children in Orange County, we have much work to do.”

“Chef Azmin is a true leader and visionary in the community and shares our mission to provide children with the resources they need to succeed, which starts by providing a stable, safe and healthy learning environment,” said Jennifer Friend, executive director of Project Hope Alliance.  “Words cannot express our gratitude for this new partnership with Sapphire Culinary Group and the generous contribution Chef Azmin has pledged for the families of Project Hope Alliance.”

About Project Hope Alliance

Project Hope Alliance (formerly Project HOPE School Foundation) was formed in 2003 and educates and empowers homeless children in Orange County to end the cycle of poverty.  In this mission, the organization supports Skyview, a kindergarten through eighth grade school in Orange designed to meet the unique academic and psycho-social needs of homeless children, provides after school care, and also furnishes daily round-trip transport to school from over 29 motels and shelters throughout the County.  Featured in the HBO documentary "Homeless: The Motel Kids of Orange County," Project Hope Alliance serves some of the county's most vulnerable children. For more information, visit http://www.projecthopealliance.org/.

About Sapphire Culinary Group

The Sapphire Culinary Group is a collection of innovative companies headed by Chef Azmin Ghahreman. Under his direction, they are each, in their own unique way, devoted to bringing the bold flavors and exciting tastes of globally inspired, freshly interpreted cuisine to discriminating customers. Sapphire Culinary Group is made up of Sapphire Laguna, Sapphire Pantry, Sapphire Catering, Sapphire at School, and Sapphire at Work. For more information, visit www.sapphirelaguna.com.

About Sapphire at School

Chef Azmin Ghahreman sees each child as his own responsibility, and coined the phrase “Every Child Is My Child™” – making it his mission to develop and nurture programs that take a positive action on behalf of children: providing delicious, innovative and healthy meals that broaden the mind and the palate.  Sapphire at School was launched in 2007, and aims to provide a fresh and healthy alternative to the standard institutional and fast-food fare that have resulted in a generation of overweight children.  Sapphire at School currently partners with seven schools in Orange County and serves more than 4,200 students daily. The program is based primarily on the Mediterranean Food Pyramid, using heart-healthy foods which produce meals that are not only nutritious, but taste good as well.  Contributing to the ongoing development and advancement of the program is the Sapphire at School Nutritional Board comprised of the area’s leading pediatric medical, nutritional and dental experts and professional chefs.  For more information regarding Sapphire at School, please call 949-715-9260 or visit www.sapphireatschool.com.