In a time where the word comfort is synonymous with food, where medicine for the soul can be found in a kitchen.
Gary Cusumano and his family have made a landmark $1 million donation to the College of the Canyons Culinary Arts Department.
“We’re very, very focused on young people today,” said Gary Cusumano, retired CEO of Newhall Land Company.
“There are those who have the financial wherewithal to pay for their education and accomplish the goal. And there are those who would like to accomplish a goal but maybe come up a little short on the financial side.”
The endowment celebrates the life and legacy of Gary’s wife, Diana, an educator and philanthropist. She was instrumental in fundraising for the new state-of-the-art culinary building, that completed construction in April 2015
The COC Board of Trustees voted and unanimously approved to rename the Culinary Arts Building to the ‘Diana and Gary Cusumano, Culinary Arts.’
“There has been no single gift anywhere near this size at this campus,” said Monica Lee “ML” Copeland, Chief Development Officer, at College of the Canyons.
“This is special for this campus, and this time, it’s probably about 10 times larger than any other gift we’ve had from an individual.”
The Diana and Gary Cusumano Culinary Arts Endowed Program Fund and the Cusumano Family and Friends Endowed Scholarship Fund will offer training and scholarships to full and part-time students.
“Anytime that we receive funds that help scholarships, it’s one less thing our student has to worry about while they’re going to school,” says Dr. Jasmine Ruys, Acting Superintendent-President, COC
“I am currently enrolled in a ‘Culinary 1 Program’, and so every day I get to play in a kitchen,” says Angela Fuller, COC Student.
Studies show that the food service industry is expected to create 200,000 jobs and increase total industry employment to 15.9 million by the end of 2025.
