2024 Virtual Cooking Class Recap

Year 4

Our fourth year of the Virtual Cooking Class wrapped up this past June, creating countless new memories with our students and families. From learning new recipes to sharing laughs in our virtual kitchens, this year has been truly special. Let’s take a look back at some key highlights from our 2024 Virtual Cooking Class!

New to the Program

At Heal LA, we always value feedback from our students and families. One of the most consistent requests we receive is for our programs to run longer. In 2024, we extended the Virtual Cooking Class to a 10-week program! This makes it the second longest program that Heal LA runs, and each year, we have progressively extended its duration.

Our programs always feature a blend of returning and new students. With the extended length of this year’s program, we introduced a brand-new 10-week meal plan for our students and families to learn. These new meals are fun, easy, and most importantly, they expose our kids to a variety of new foods.

One participant shared, “My son is a picky eater and I was surprised he loved all the meals we cooked. He rarely ate chicken and we made a chicken recipe one time and he loved it and always asks for us to make it. My family and I would like to thank Heal Los Angeles Foundation for giving us the opportunity to take the cooking classes—we enjoyed it very much.”

Capturing moments of interaction between our students and families was priceless! On social media, we highlighted 10 of our chefs showcasing their skills. If you haven’t already done so, check out the video reels we made for each chef on all of our social media accounts.

By exposing our kids to new foods and cooking skills, we aim to foster healthier eating habits and a love for cooking that will benefit them for years to come. We are already looking forward to next year and exploring ways to incorporate more interactive elements and exciting new recipes based on their feedback.

The Impact

From our pre- and post-survey results, we found out the following information:

• 90% of our students are more motivated to eat healthier foods after participating in the Virtual Cooking Class.
• 88% of our students felt that the Virtual Cooking Class helped them cook healthier meals.
• 82% of our students felt healthier after joining the Virtual Cooking Class.

While these impact numbers are significant, there are other ways Heal LA can see the difference the Virtual Cooking Class is making. As our only virtual program, it can be more challenging to observe the impact compared to our in-person programs, but there are still clear indicators of success.

Visiting our students and families at home and witnessing the special bonds formed through cooking together is truly heartwarming. In the hustle and bustle of daily life, finding time for certain activities can be difficult, but everyone needs to eat. We’ve received tremendous feedback from students and parents about how this program has helped them spend more quality time together.

Another aspect of our program is the incentive for students to share their finished meals on social media and tag Heal LA. Participants who do this receive a weekly $50 grocery gift card. These gift cards go a long way in supporting our families. This year, we have distributed over $19,000 worth of grocery gift cards, resulting in over 95% participation in our program.

The Virtual Cooking Class not only teaches valuable cooking skills but also fosters healthier eating habits, strengthens family bonds, and provides much-needed support to our families. We are proud of the positive impact this program continues to make in our community.

Hard Rock Cafe Los Angeles

For the second straight year, our friends at Hard Rock Café Los Angeles have generously served as our presenting sponsors for the Virtual Cooking Class. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Hard Rock Café Los Angeles for their steadfast support, which allows us to make a significant impact in our community year after year. Their financial contributions and dedicated volunteerism are invaluable in helping us continue our mission.

“It has been our genuine pleasure to be the Official Sponsor for the Heal Los Angeles Virtual Cooking Class. At our company’s core, giving back is a true focus, a tradition we’ve upheld for the past 53 years. Partnering with Loreto Street Elementary School families has been inspiring, reinforcing our belief that meaningful change is possible when we unite for important causes. We look forward to continuing to promote positive change in our community.”

Armando Contreras, General Manager, Hard Rock Café Los Angeles

In addition to their sponsorship, Hard Rock Café Los Angeles will further support the Heal Los Angeles Foundation by selling the “Dangerous Burger.” Proceeds from each Dangerous Burger sold will directly benefit Heal LA! The Hard Rock Café Los Angeles is located at: 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028.