Women Culinary & Spirits Program: This program brings qualified women into the restaurant industry and equips them with new skills, powerful mentors in the industry.

Women Culinary & Spirits Program: This program brings qualified women into the restaurant industry and equips them with new skills, powerful mentors in the industry.

Restaurant Workers Relief Program: Through the pandemic, we funded restaurants to open relief kitchens for out of work restaurant staff. We have now used this model to operate emergency relief kitchens.

Restaurant Workers Relief Program: Through the pandemic, we funded restaurants to open relief kitchens for out of work restaurant staff. We have now used this model to operate emergency relief kitchens.

The Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch – a special release bourbon created by the community, for the community, to support trade and hospitality partners around the country, only available through LEE.

The Maker’s Mark CommUNITY Batch – a special release bourbon created by the community, for the community, to support trade and hospitality partners around the country, only available through LEE.

Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice: We partner with the Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice and Heinz to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants.

Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice: We partner with the Southern Restaurants for Racial Justice and Heinz to provide grants to Black-owned restaurants.

The LEE Initiative is an acronym for Let’s Empower Employment. When we see a need for more diversity, equality and compassion in the restaurant industry, we will find innovative and impactful solutions. We will create programs that make a real difference in the lives of the next generation of restaurant industry professionals. We help our community and inspire others to get involved.