ACF presents Russman with True Spirit Award

The American Culinary Federation's (ACF) Chef and Child Foundation selected Nancy Russman, director of culinary arts at Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, Ky., to receive the 2010 True Spirit Award. The award is presented once a year to a person or ACF chapter that has demonstrated extraordinary efforts to aid children.


Russman (pictured, above) received the True Spirit Award in recognition of her dedication to educating children about healthy eating. When she isn't teaching, Russman works at local nonprofit organizations such as the Family Scholar House, New Directions Housing and Home of the Innocents. She recently published a cookbook for children entitled Chef Nancy's Kids' Club Cookbook (2009, Butler Books).

"I feel so honored to receive this award, but there is still much work to be done," Russman said in a statement. "Our children are facing an epidemic which we must face head on. I've seen firsthand that teaching children to eat healthy not only benefits their health, but also their self esteem and self worth. I consider it my mission to make sure that happens."