To date, the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival has raised over $14 million in support of the educational programs at Florida International University’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. A significant amount of the funds raised from the Festival is allocated to a construction project fund for the expansion of FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management’s existing dining room into a full service Teaching Restaurant. Other revenue from the Festival is invested in the support of beverage management classes and maintenance of the Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center, a 4,500 square-foot facility that features the latest technology for beverage tasting and analysis. Additional funds are awarded as scholarships to the students of the School who demonstrate exceptional performance while volunteering in all facets of the Festival.

In addition to the tangible benefits, the students of FIU’s School of Hospitality and Tourism Management also receive priceless experience by volunteering for the Festival. Culinary students receive the rare opportunity to work alongside and learn from some of the most celebrated chefs in the world including Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Eric Ripert, Ferran Adria, Emeril Lagasse, Thomas Keller and Nobu Matsuhisa among others.

Students of the many wine classes offered at the School are also fortunate enough to meet and work with some of the world’s most respected wine personalities and taste wines from some of the world’s most renowned wineries.

Other students fill positions in sponsorship activation, operations, logistics, public relations, marketing and auction coordination and together offer the support to make it possible to produce a Festival of this caliber and size.