Lions International Honors Chef José Andrés and World Central Kitchen with Humanitarian Award

News release by Lions International

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Oak Brook, Ill. | June 21, 2023 12:59 PM Eastern Daylight Time

Photo credit to World Central Kitchen/WCK.org.

For his dedication to humanitarian service and world hunger relief, Chef José Andrés, Michelin star culinary artist and founder of the World Central Kitchen nonprofit organization, will be presented with the 2023 Lions Humanitarian Award during the 105th Lions Clubs International Convention on July 10, 2023. World Central Kitchen CEO Erin Gore will accept the award on Chef Andrés’ behalf.

Cooking from the heart is an Andrés family tradition. The ambitious creative began his culinary journey alongside his parents at their home kitchen in Spain before the chef started formal training at one of the world’s most notable restaurants, Ferran Adrià’s El Bulli.

Chef Andrés immigrated to the United States in 1991 and has continued to change the world through the power of food at his dozens of award-winning restaurants and international humanitarian organization, World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization that provides fresh meals in response to crises around the world.

The Lions Humanitarian Award is the association's highest honor, given to an individual or an organization with exemplary humanitarian efforts. This award comes with a Lions Clubs International Foundation grant for up to US$250,000 to a charitable organization for continuing humanitarian activities. Chef Andrés joins a distinguished list of prior recipients, including Mother Teresa, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Denis Mukwege.

"We are truly honored to present this award to Chef José Andrés, whose work is changing lives and making a profound impact on the world," said Lions International President Brian Sheehan. "As Lions, we strive to ensure all communities have access to nutritious food. Not only is Chef Andrés a highly respected mover and shaker in the culinary field, he is also a man of action in humanitarian efforts and truly shows the world that food can help us rebuild after even the most unthinkable challenges.”

Chef Andrés founded World Central Kitchen in 2010 to fill not only stomachs but hearts and minds, too. The nonprofit organization is often first to the frontlines, providing fresh meals in response to crises while working to build resilient food systems with locally-led solutions. To date, World Central Kitchen has served more than 300 million nourishing meals around the world.

Learn more about the Lions Humanitarian Award and see our list of winners at https://www.lionsclubs.org/humanitarian-winners.

About Lions International

Lions International is the largest service club organization in the world. More than 1.4 million members in over 49,000 clubs are serving in 200 countries and geographic areas around the globe. Since 1917, Lions have strengthened local communities through hands-on service and humanitarian projects, and we extend our service impact through the generous support of our Lions Clubs International Foundation. We are focused on supporting vision, the environment, childhood cancer, hunger, diabetes and other pressing humanitarian needs to help address some of the biggest challenges facing humanity. For more information about Lions International, visit lionsclubs.org.