Curin and Little Kitchen Academy Recognized for Driving Real Change in Business and Culture
Today Little Kitchen Academy (LKA), the first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen, announced that LKA Founder Felicity Curin has been named as one of Entrepreneur magazine’s 2021 100 Women of Impact. The list includes other inspiring leaders such as actress and activist Eva Longoria, Dr. Toyin Ajayi, co-founder of Cityblock Health, and Kara Hurst, vice president of worldwide sustainability at Amazon. Every year, Entrepreneur recognizes the Top 100 women leading today’s most influential, innovative companies, and changing lives while they’re at it. Curin, recognized for the first time among this group, founded LKA on the belief that by empowering children with practical life skills and knowledge in a positive and joyful environment, the company will effect positive lifestyle changes that result in a healthier world.
“I am honoured and humbled to be included with such spectacular women,” said Felicity Curin, founder, president, and COO of Little Kitchen Academy. “This is a super reminder to anyone who feels genuinely passionate about an idea that keeps growing in your head – DO IT! Combining skill set and passion are two needed ingredients, and a remarkable group of people to support you and help you along the way is also essential. Little Kitchen Academy is changing lives. Our students are growing confidence and necessary life skills in a warm, compassionate environment. LKA students have made me a better human and they inspire our entire team every day! A big thank you to our remarkable students, our tireless team, and Entrepreneur magazine for joining us on this journey.”
In addition to providing children with the environment to learn practical life skills and build their independence, LKA is also focused on empowering their students to help others, through their first-of-its-kind philanthropic program, How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, which puts the power of giving into the hands of their students. All LKA students learn about LKA’s charitable partners and are given the chance to ask, “How can I help,” feeling empowered to make a choice about what matters most to them and learning that they can make the world a better place. Little Kitchen Academy donates $1 on behalf of every student to the charity they choose to help, with a goal of donating $1M to their charitable partners by the end of 2025.
“Giving back is such an important life skill and I am proud that we are able to share that with our students,” said Curin. “We see how much thought and care they put into their decision. It’s incredibly moving and inspiring to watch our students feel empowered to make the world a better place.”
Curin is excited for LKA to continue to expand into new markets so more children can learn practical life skills while developing their independence at the Montessori-inspired cooking academy.
“It has been wonderful seeing new locations open this year and how the experience for every child is the same,” said Curin. “It doesn’t matter whether they are in Vancouver or Toronto or Los Angeles, students stand a little taller when they put on their chef’s coat. They get the same sense of wonder as they harvest fresh produce from our Living Food Wall powered by AeroGarden. They feel the same pride and delight at the end of class when they show their parents what they made that day. The learning, independence, and joy are universal, and I can’t wait for more children to experience it as we grow and open more locations globally.”
Little Kitchen Academy is currently seeking like-minded multi-unit franchisees and development partners based exclusively in AZ, CA, FL, IL, NC, OR, TX, UT, WA, and WI. In Canada LKA is focused on expanding further into AB, select markets in B.C., and Ont. Globally, Australia, Japan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, MENA region, Singapore, Spain, and the U.K. are markets available for development with LKA.
About Little Kitchen Academy
Little Kitchen Academy (LKA) is the key ingredient for an independent child. The first-of-its-kind, Montessori-inspired cooking academy for kids ages three through teen is focused on providing a safe, inspiring, and empowering space for children to identify, develop and refine their senses. Based in Vancouver, Canada, the concept was co-founded by proven global brand and franchise expert and serial entrepreneur Brian Curin, his wife, Montessori-trained, culinary expert and visionary Felicity Curin, and social impact investor and entrepreneur Praveen Varshney, on the belief that by empowering children with practical life skills and knowledge in a positive and joyful environment, they and their company will effect positive lifestyle changes that result in a healthier world. True to its mission, LKA lives to create a more educated, able, and healthy society through mindful, healthy eating choices, and is committed to changing lives, from scratch to consumption. Part of that mission includes empowering students to learn how they can make the world a better place through How Can I Help by Little Kitchen Academy, LKA’s signature philanthropic program, supporting Chefs for Humanity, The Global FoodBanking Network, Kids Help Phone, and PHIT America. In addition to charitable partnerships, LKA has forged strategic global brand partnerships with Iron Chef Cat Cora, AeroGarden, BIRKENSTOCK, ChefWorks, Emeco, ChopValue, Welcome Industries, Location3, and PRISE Inc. Little Kitchen Academy’s flagship venues are located in Vancouver, B.C. and Los Angeles, Calif.
For a taste of Little Kitchen Academy, visit littlekitchenacademy.com or join its communities on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube.