Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas

By Brian Sodoma

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 | 3:40 p.m.

Heinz Lauer doesn’t mind giving his talents away — for the right cause, of course.

The executive chef for Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts Las Vegas does more than run an educational facility that provides much of the culinary manpower for the Las Vegas Valley. Lauer works to instill the idea of giving back to the community when he instructs future chefs; and he sets the example himself by working with local nonprofits for fundraising events, even offering his services up for bid at valley charity auctions.

“For me, it all started when we put together our Chefs for Kids program,” Lauer said. “Then I just found myself doing more and more.”

The Chefs for Kids program cooks meals for various valley schools throughout the school year, introducing some of the underprivileged to a hearty meal and unique foods.

Le Cordon Bleu’s philanthropic role as a whole in the valley is quite impressive. During the past six months, its students have logged more than 3,300 volunteer hours with various nonprofit groups, including March of Dimes, Opportunity Village, Three Square and others. The

school’s students are regularly involved in Thanksgiving and Christmas food drives and meal preparations for those in need and have baked more than 15,000 cookies for troops in Iraq. Le Cordon Bleu’s on-campus restaurant, which is open to the public as well, is also a site many charities have used for fundraising events.

“There are not a lot of hard dollars here, but one thing we really can do is give our talent,” added Le Cordon Bleu president, Ken Hause. “I don’t know if these efforts would be as big as they are without Chef Lauer. … He’s really the engine.”

Lauer said student chefs volunteering for fundraising events is a scenario that makes for a win-win for students and charities.

“In a lot of cases, the students have never plated a 500-person meal,” Lauer said. “They get to work with other chefs, while helping the community. Sometimes they’re able to find a job.”

Opened in Las Vegas in 2003, Le Cordon Bleu has a regular enrollment of between 500 and 600 students. To date, it has graduated more than 2,000 students.