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MCHA is a strong supporter of programs offered at the Rancho Cielo Youth Campus and the facility’s Drummond Culinary Academy. The Salinas nonprofit educates underserved youth, trains them for jobs and teaches self-sufficiency. The Rancho Cielo Committee works to further strengthen the relationship between MCHA members and the Rancho Cielo team.
Retired Monterey County Superior Court Judge John Phillips and his wife, Patti, teamed up with hospitality, business and community leaders to open Rancho Cielo in 2004. Since then, MCHA members have donated time, money and expertise. Tourism and culinary professionals serve as mentors and teach classes. They provide resume and interview guidance, donate professional attire to students lacking in resources, and host white tablecloth dinners that introduce students to levels of social etiquette and service they might encounter in future jobs. MCHA members support annual fundraisers for Rancho Cielo, as well.
Many Rancho Cielo participants study at the Drummond Culinary Academy, completing academy-level culinary instruction while earning a high school diploma. Students learn the ins-and-outs of the restaurant business, including food prep, service, presentation and more. They cook at the center’s on-site cafe, and they also complete internships and job training at area restaurants and resorts. Local restaurants and the culinary teams at area resorts hire many of these talented individuals. Rancho Cielo graduates have also gone on to study at some of the nation’s most respected culinary institutions.
