Meghan Gardner to lead Delaware Restaurant Foundation
The Delaware Restaurant Association announced Meghan Gardner as director of its philanthropic arm, the Delaware Restaurant Foundation.
Under the leadership of Carrie Leishman, president and CEO of DRA and DRF, the foundation remains dedicated to enhancing the industry's training and education, career opportunities and community engagement efforts.
"Meg’s immense industry experience will be the perfect addition to our leadership team, and comes at a pivotal time for the association and foundation as the entities continue to expand and innovate,” said Leishman. "Meg’s impact and relationships throughout the state will allow us to continue to support Delaware’s restaurant industry and workforce with new and exciting initiatives that truly represent advancement opportunities and pathways to success for people of all backgrounds and abilities."
Gardner brings more than 30 years of experience and dedication to Delaware’s hospitality industry. She is a previous co-owner of the iconic Blue Moon restaurant in Rehoboth Beach and most recently served as director of resource development with Children’s Beach House in Lewes. Gardner has served as an industry mentor to local ProStart students in statewide and national culinary and management competitions, and was the founding board chair for the Delaware Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. She brings a depth of industry experience and leadership to the DRF and DRA team, and seeks to advance the mission by supporting career pathways for individuals of varying backgrounds and abilities.
“Taking the helm as director of the DRF is both an honor and a responsibility that I am thrilled to embrace. My journey in the hospitality industry has been defined by a commitment to mentorship, a dedication to diversity and inclusion, and a relentless pursuit of excellence. I am excited to lead the DRF in its mission to shape the future of Delaware's restaurant and hospitality industries, fostering career opportunities and making a positive impact on our communities,” said Gardner.
The Delaware Restaurant Foundation and Gardner as its new director will work to manage the ProStart high school program curriculum, which has grown in reach to include 24 schools and two correctional facilities (impacting 3,600 students across the state); restaurant industry apprenticeship programs in Delaware that have been expanded to include young adults, re-entry and justice-involved individuals; and specialized training/employment opportunities pathways that have been implemented for adults with disabilities. State agency partnership with the foundation for the Forward Delaware training initiative has resulted in free DRF training distributed to more than 10,000 industry workers since the program’s inception in 2021. The DRF also launched a successful industry support campaign during the pandemic, serving the impacted restaurant workforce with over $250,000 in financial relief. The fund has been transitioned into the Delaware Restaurant Foundation Industry Relief Fund, and it will continue to provide financial assistance to industry workers facing unexpected hardships, illness or emergencies.
