Jon Bon Jovi has plenty of awards on his shelf for his work with his eponymous band. But this week the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer won some hardware for his charitable work when he was given a James Beard Impact Award for his work through his Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, which runs the JBJ Soul Kitchen.
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“Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has worked to break the cycle of hunger, poverty, and homelessness. To date, the JBJ Soul Foundation has helped provide support for almost 1,000 units of affordable and supportive housing in 12 states for thousands of people, including youth and veterans,” the organization said in a statement about the Foundation, which, in addition to providing affordable housing runs the nonprofit community restaurant JBJ Soul Kitchen in Red Bank and Toms River, New Jersey, which serves paying patrons and those in-need.
“In 2011, Bon Jovi and his wife, Dorothea Bongiovi, expanded their mission by founding JBJ Soul Kitchen, a nonprofit, pay-it-forward restaurant that has served over 234,000 healthy, three-course meals across its four New Jersey locations,” the Beard organization added. “JBJ Soul Kitchen offers more than just a meal — it fosters meaningful connections with guests through community outreach including job training, resume support, employment assistance, partnerships with local mental health providers, and access to housing resources.”
Customers at both outlets are encouraged to pay for someone else’s meal, or cover the cost of their order by volunteering. According to the JBJ Soul Kitchen website, to date it has served more than 234,000 meals, with 58% of its patrons earning meals by volunteering and 42% paying with donations. The annual James Beard Foundation Awards honor chefs, restaurateurs, food writers, critics and journalists in the U.S.
