PITTSBURGH, March 15, 2024 – Desarae Legros of Monongahela, Pennsylvania, has been awarded the distinction of “Annual Star Chef Honoree” for her dedicated work as a volunteer with the global community-impact movement, Lasagna Love, which connects neighbors through gestures of kindness, goodwill, and support to feed families, spread kindness, and strengthen communities.
The Lasagna Love non-profit organization launched in early 2020 as a way to bring comfort to neighbors by creating and delivering homemade meals to people in local communities. Over the past four years, the virality of Lasagna Love as a nationwide grassroots campaign has expanded to include communities worldwide, bringing members together to feed more than 1.8 million people and deliver upwards of 380,000 meals.
Legros is one of more than 52,000 volunteer ‘lasagna chefs,’ residing across all 50 states of America, Australia, and Canada. Of the 52,000 volunteers, only a small handful were selected to receive “Annual Star Chef Honoree” distinction in recognition of their tireless support of the cause and commitment to their local communities. The “Annual Star Chef Honoree,” selected from this year’s distinctions, will receive a custom trophy as well as special gifts from Lasagna Love and long-time sponsorship partner RAGÚ® , the iconic sauce brand that makes it easier to prepare the perfect, delicious dish to share when you want to spread some kindness or help someone in need.
Andria Larson, Executive Director of Lasagna Love, said, “Desarae is simply one of the most amazing humans I have ever come across. She uses her social media platform to bring attention to the real needs facing our communities. She is full of enthusiasm, love, generosity, and kindness. She is naturally everything that we need more of in this world. This award is so well deserved!”
Legros was also among 18,129 volunteer chefs last year who joined Lasagna Love and RAGÚ® to support National Lasagna Day, one of Lasagna Love’s largest annual volunteer events, which includes large-scale delivery events to support individual families, first responders, local fire departments, homeless shelters, retirement homes, food banks, Ronald McDonald Houses, and various nonprofit community- support organizations. In 2023, Lasagna Love volunteers prepared and delivered over 132,000 meals in local communities. This year, Lasagna Love will aim to exceed those goals, assisting more families nationwide on National Lasagna Love (July 29).
To learn more, request a meal, become a volunteer Lasagna Chef, nominate a recipient for a Lasagna Love delivery, or support Lasagna Love through donations or the purchase of Lasagna Love store merchandise, visit www.lasagnalove.org.
About Lasagna Love
Lasagna Love is a community impact program that connects neighbors through gestures of kindness, goodwill, and support. The nonprofit has joined together more than 52,000 volunteers from around the world and abides by three simple principles: feed families, spread kindness and strengthen communities. Lasagna Love fosters a culture of positivity, empathy, zero-judgment, and maintains a steadfast resolve to deliver comfort when needed most. Lasagna Love volunteers share a seminal purpose: exist to assist. To learn more about Lasagna Love and how you can get involved, visit www.lasagnalove.org or our social channels, @WeAreLasagnaLove (Instagram and Facebook).
About The RAGÚ® Brand
The RAGÚ® brand was founded in 1937 by Assunta and Giovanni Cantisano and their sauce was originally sold from their home in Rochester, New York. Assunta carried her family’s recipe from Italy when she immigrated to New York in 1914, and it has now been enjoyed by American families for over 85 years. With a wide selection of sauce varieties ranging from the beloved Old World Style® to the Chunky line, cheese sauces, Simply and new Kettle Cooked sauces, RAGÚ® empowers anyone to ”Cook Like a Mother” regardless of gender or culinary skill. Today, RAGÚ® sauce is the go-to pasta sauce for families coming together to share a quick and delicious meal and an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to ”Cook Like a Mother”; in the kitchen. For the very latest news, recipes and more from the RAGÚ® brand, please check out the brand at www.RAGÚ.com . You can also follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook and TikTok.
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Media Contacts:
Jennifer MacDermott; (Lasagna Love); jennifer.macdermott@lasagnalove.org
Candace Corner; (RAGÚ®); candace.corner@digitas.com
SOURCE LASAGNA LOVE