At Covenant House New Jersey, we believe that when young people are given the right opportunities, they thrive. That belief was brought to life recently through a truly special experience made possible by one of our longer-standing partners: Caesars Entertainment who helps our youth dream bigger.
For roughly 15 years, Caesars and their Atlantic City casinos have been a consistent force of good in our community. Through generous donations, sponsoring events, hosting career-building workshops, and countless hours of volunteering, Caesars has helped fuel our mission to provide hope and healing to young people facing homelessness.
On March 6, in recognition of National Nutrition Month, Tropicana’s culinary team hosted a special cooking class for our youth—many of whom are currently learning how to cook for themselves. Led by Chef Angela Irwin, the class wasn’t just about food; it was about life skills, confidence, and creativity. And Caesars didn’t just send a chef; they brought in top culinary talent from their most prestigious restaurants. Our young people were amazed.
Chef Irwin designed the class with a thoughtful and practical concept: buy one grocery item and create multiple meals. She chose whole chickens as the focus and taught the group how to properly break one down. Her lesson also included a smart budgeting tip—highlighting the cost difference between buying a whole chicken versus individual parts, something incredibly relevant for youth learning to live independently.
The chefs broke everyone into small groups of three to four, making the experience more personal and less intimidating. Some youth initially hung back, hesitant to jump in—but within 15 minutes, the energy shifted. Everyone was cooking. The youth learned to make fajitas with chicken breast, roasted leg quarters with herbs, and even transformed the bones into a rich stock for chicken tortellini soup.
The excitement in the kitchen was contagious. Our youth asked questions: How did you become a chef? What’s it like working in a casino? What kind of future could I have in this field? They weren’t just cooking—they were envisioning possibilities.
We ended the night in the casino’s elegant dining room, savoring the food they helped prepare. The soup was the clear favorite—everyone went back for seconds. And in a final, thoughtful gesture, the chefs sent each youth home with a container of soup to enjoy later. It meant the world to them.
Experiences like this one do more than teach cooking skills. They build self-esteem, open doors to potential careers, and show our young people that they are seen, valued, and worthy of investment. That’s the power of community support.
So thank you to Caesars for helping our youth dream bigger. And when we invite donors like you to join us, it’s because your support makes moments like these possible—moments that plant seeds of hope and create real opportunities for our youth to build a better future.
