Celebrity Chefs Who Made It Big and Now Give Back

Aside from his zen-like calmness, perennial kindness, wonderful cuisine, and fun webcasts, Eric Ripert wins us over with his efforts to help causes that matter. The Michelin-starred chef is well known as a philanthropic leader in the culinary community. He is the Chair of City Harvest's Food Council, which aims to help fight hunger by raising funds, and he is involved with The Tibet Fund. Speaking about those causes, Ripert said, "Their missions to help those in need — be they a New Yorker facing food insecurity or the Tibetan people — resonate with me, and I am proud to be able to work so closely with both, whether it's donating fresh food or helping to raise much needed funds."

She has eight successful restaurants, including No. 9 Park and Menton, and she's the only female in the U.S. who holds the distinguished title of Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux, but Boston-bred chef Barbara Lynch hasn't forgotten her roots. Rising from the housing projects of South Boston with little money and no formal culinary education, Lynch built an empire that includes The Barbara Lynch Foundation. The charitable organization aims to empower Boston youth through leadership development and resources that can help them enrich their lives.

We watched him win the third season of The Next Iron Chef, applauded when he received a Michelin star three years in a row, and still dream about his decadent chili lobster. But what makes us adore Marc Forgione is his benevolence. After chef Ming Tsai asked Forgione to cook at an event for the charity Family Reach, Forgione fell in love with the kids and the organization's work. "If every person had a tenth of the heart these kids have, the world would be a better place," Forgione said. He is now a Chef Ambassador for Family Reach and has opened his NYC restaurant for events to raise nearly $600,000 for families dealing with cancer. Forgione dedicates his remaining spare time to working with Feeding America and Citymeals. His reason for wanting to give back is simple: "There are a lot of people in this world who, unfortunately, got dealt a crappy hand and I've been blessed to not be one of those. So, anything I can do to help make someone smile, count me in."

After his son was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, chef Michel Nischan reconsidered his relationship with food and the connection it has to health. He provides unprocessed, local food to those who can afford it at his restaurant, but he wondered about the rest of the population. "Individuals in underserved communities want to provide their families with fresh food, but they do not have the luxury of affording it," Nischan realized. In 2007, Nischan founded Wholesome Wave with Michael Batterberry and Gus Schumacher. The program helps provide healthy, affordable, locally-grown food to underserved communities.

Chef Chrisitina Tosi, the owner and founder of Momofuku Milk Bar, had us at Compost Cookie (a cookie with potato chips, pretzels, chocolate, butterscotch, oats, and coffee...seriously?!). But Tosi impressed us even more with her altruism. Tosi joined forces with Hot Bread Kitchen to help create jobs for immigrants. The organization was founded by Jessamyn W. Rodriguez and strives to provide greater opportunities for foreign-born women and men by opening doors to the lucrative food industry through connections and training. Hot Bread Kitchen also sells ethnically-influenced bread (Persian flatbreads, challah, tortillas) to raise funds that offset the cost of the program.

After moving to California to help in his family's restaurant, Joshuya Brassierie, chef Jason Kwon gave the eatery charitable purpose: building orphanages and safe houses in third-world countries. The restaurant teamed up with Build Hope International and directs 10% of all profits to orphans in need. Kwon also started a work-outreach program; he hires homeless people from the local community to work in his Bleecker Street Bistro. When asked why philanthropy is so important, Kwon said, "helping others is what gives me the greatest peace."

After helping to make ramen a superstar dish at Momofuku and making New Yorkers drool over pork buns, David Chang began to involve himself in the community. Since 2011, Chang has been giving back locally as a member of the Benefit Committee for the Food Bank for New York City, a Food Council Member for City Harvest, and as a member of the Board of Directors for Friends of Hudson River Park.

Credited with introducing avant-garde Spanish food to the U.S., José Andrés' efforts are now focussed on helping communities through "the powers of food." After the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, Andrés knew he could utilize his resources to help those in need. He founded World Central Kitchen, which recognizes the amazing power of a simple, clean stove. As Andrés says on the organization's website, "I created World Central Kitchen to find sustainable solutions to ending food insecurity and malnutrition. There are many people to feed and many plates to fill in a world where food should be accessible to everyone." Andrés' effort to create smart solutions for hunger led him to become the Chairman Emeritus of DC Central Kitchen and a board member for Whole Wave.

A Louisiana-based chef who owns nine restaurants, John Besh gives back to his home state. In 2011, Besh created The John Besh Foundation, which works to protect the culinary heritage of New Orleans. The Foundation runs a scholarship fund (Chefs Move!) that sends a minority recipient to NYC's Institute of Culinary Arts. In addition, Besh created a micro-loan program that helps local farmers rebuild their businesses. You might think that's enough to fill Besh's schedule, but with his Marine Corps background, the chef also finds time to provide ready-to-eat meals for emergency response teams.

Mario Batali is everywhere. When he's not creating delicious bites, traveling with Gwyneth Paltrow, or appearing on TV, the orange Croc-wearing chef is working with multiple charities. Batali created The Mario Batali Foundation (which provides children in need with enough food for healthy development), he is on the Board of the Food Bank for New York City, and he is also involved with The Lunchbox Fund (a non-profit organization that provides daily meals for orphaned kids in South Africa). Recently Batali helped launch the philanthropic app Feedie, which lets restaurants donate to The Lunchbox Fund after diners snap photos of their meals and share them.