Ava R. 

Toast.org is one way Toasters show up for the communities and industries they serve. This past March, that meant partnering with ProStart®, a nationwide organization founded on the mission to help students build real careers in restaurants and foodservice.

Toast.org's New Orleans chapter volunteers showed up to help facilitate 17 high school culinary teams competing at the 2026 Louisiana ProStart Invitational - a high stakes cook-off where students have 60 minutes to plate a gourmet three-course meal in front of professional judges, with scholarships and a shot at a national title on the line.

Toasters timed, judged, and cheered students through every round. Every volunteer who participated came away saying it was one of the most meaningful days they have had since working at Toast, and that they all want to come back for the 2027 competition. 

Here's what Toasters took away from the day:

"I loved witnessing up close the collaboration of the high school team while working under pressure. And every time I told the team how much time was remaining, they responded with 'Heard!'" — Tyler B., Software Engineering Manager


"I loved connecting with the young women participating and advising on how to present themselves with confidence." — Brittany H., Onboarding Consultant III

For many Toasters, volunteering is also a chance to reconnect with why the work matters.

"My involvement with Toast.org is one of the most meaningful parts of my role at Toast. After nearly nine years in sales, my schedule is often very full — yet these are the events I consistently prioritize. Supporting small business owners is at the heart of what I do. They are the backbone of our communities, and Toast.org creates that bridge." — Jenae C., Principal IV Account Executive


“I really value opportunities like this because they reconnect me to the hospitality industry that’s played such a big role in my success. It’s a chance to step out of the day-to-day grind and be reminded of the impact we have supporting operators and their teams. Experiences like this reinforce why I’m passionate about what we do at Toast.”  - Nathan N., District Sales Manager

This is what life at Toast looks like beyond the day-to-day. The next generation of hospitality leaders is already hard at work, and Toast.org is proud to be part of that. And a big congratulations to all 17 teams that competed, the future of hospitality is in capable hands.