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STREETS International 7th Annual Benefit

This week, more than 200 members of the New York community came together to support STREETS International, a Hoi An, Vietnam-based nonprofit organization that trains underprivileged young men and women to succeed in their region’s growing 5-star hospitality industry. 

By Stephanie Fraiman - Public Relations & Communications Director

ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
Chef Anita Lo of Annisa poses between ICE President Rick Smilow and an ICE student Volunteer at the STREETS International 7th Annual Benefit Wednesday night, at the Astor Center in NYC

STREETS was founded by Dr. Neal Bermas (a former ICE Culinary Management instructor) and his partner Sondra Stewart in 2007. Now in its seventh year of success, their 18-month training program for disadvantaged Vietnamese youth is hosted at four locations in Hoi An: The STREETS Restaurant and Cafe, a training center and two single-sex dorm houses. Among its most notable accolades,  STREETS was inducted into the Clinton Global Initiative in 2014.  

ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
Video presentation at the benefit. Photo courtesy of Joe Wehner

This year, STREETS hosted its annual benefit event at the Astor Center in New York City. ICE students cooked alongside such esteemed chefs as Daniel Boulud and Anita Lo, preparing Southeast Asian-inspired street food for the event. 

ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
Chef Daniel Boulud, Neal Bermas (STREETS International Founder), Mark Maynard-Parisi (Senior Managing Partner at Blue Smoke Enterprises), and Danny Meyer. Photo courtesy of Joe Wehner.
ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
Chefs from restaurants around the city join STREETS International founder Neal Bermas. Photo courtesy of Joe Wehner

Among the wide range of celebrated New York restaurants participating in the event were The Meatball Shop, Pok Pok, Toro, Annisa, DBGB, Blue Smoke, Pearl and Ash, Umi Nom/Kuma Inn, Num Pang, Le Colonial and Ai Fiori. Guests toasted the evening with specialty cocktails crafted by top mixologists from The Wren.

ICE - Events - STREETS International BenefitICE - Events - STREETS International BenefitICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit

ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
From left: Leslie McEachern (owner, Angelica Kitchen), Stephen Zagor (Dean, ICE School of Business & Management Studies, and Marion Nestlé (Paulette Goddard Professor, Department of Nutrition, Food Studies, & Public Health, New York University)
ICE - Events - STREETS International BenefitICE - Events - STREETS International BenefitICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
ICE - Events - STREETS International Benefit
ICE was proud to be a part of the benefit, which raised over $100,000 for the charity organization on Wednesday night

Thanks to the help of STREETS’ many benefactors the event was a roaring success. It costs $1,800 for one student to complete the training program, and the benefit raised more than $100,000 for the organization. To learn more about STREETS and how you can contribute to their mission, click here. 

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