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Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas to Celebrate 10-Year Anniversary

The Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas (ECFLV) will celebrate its 10-year anniversary dinner in the Juniper Ballroom at Aria Las Vegas at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 4 (Pictured above: Bill McBeath, president and COO of Aria Resort Hotel and Casino).  

This year, the executive committee and board will honor Bill McBeath, president and COO of Aria Resort Hotel and Casino, and Sandy Peltyn, a leader in philanthropic initiatives throughout the Las Vegas community.

Every May, ECFLV gathers supporters, members and beneficiaries to celebrate the future and anniversary of the formation of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation through an event that honors members of the community who have made substantial contributions toward education for the hospitality industry. In this, its tenth year, McBeath and Peltyn were selected for their unwavering support and many accomplishments in the industry.

As students and education are the backbone of the ECFLV, scholarship recipients will join attendees at the seated dinner and induction ceremony honoring members and students. The ECFLV’s primary charitable endeavor is the establishment of annual scholarship awards for Clark County high school students seeking careers in the hospitality industry.

“Bill McBeath exemplifies the goal of the foundation,” said Kevin Dimond, president of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation. “A UNLV graduate and wonderful role model to our students, McBeath kept his talents in Las Vegas by working his way up through the hospitality industry. His commitment to the local hospitality education and community made him an obvious choice to be honored at this milestone anniversary dinner.”

McBeath has more than 20 years of experience in the hospitality industry. A UNLV graduate from the William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration, McBeath became president of Treasure Island at 33 years of age.

Las Vegas socialite and community philanthropist, Sandy Peltyn, has been a notable figure in Las Vegas for nearly 30 years. An event planner by trade, Peltyn has donated her skills to a variety of charitable organizations including the National Jewish Medical Research Center, Foundation of an Independent Tomorrow (FIT) and the Nevada Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation. Selected as the “Most Generous Las Vegan” in 2005 by the Las Vegas Review-Journal in the annual “Best of Las Vegas” poll, Peltyn has made waves in Las Vegas’ charitable community and social scene.

“Sandy Peltyn has donated so much of her time and efforts to a variety of organizations over the past 30 years in Las Vegas,” said Christina Clifton, chairwoman of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation. “She’s an admirable role model to all our students for her philanthropy and work ethic.”

Comprised of more than 40 of Las Vegas’ top food and beverage executives, the Epicurean Charitable Foundation not only awards students with scholarship funds to attend any four-year accredited university of their choice, it also provides mentorship throughout each student’s college career and help to place the students in internships and jobs. 2011 marks the tenth year of the Epicurean Charitable Foundation and in its tenure the foundation has provided nearly a million dollars to local scholars and also over a million in charitable community grants to such organizations as Make-A-Wish Foundation, Lied Discovery Children’s Museum, UNLV Rebel Athletic Foundation, Cleveland Clinic Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health and the Nevada Cancer Institute.

Founded in May 2001 by Rino Armeni, the Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas is comprised of more than 40 top food and beverage executives who are dedicated to making a difference in the hospitality industry and the community through support of the local education system, hospitality and culinary related organizations, charities and associations. The Foundation’s primary charitable endeavour is the establishment of annual scholarship awards for local students seeking careers in the hospitality industry. The Epicurean Charitable Foundation Las Vegas can be reached 702-932-5098 or by visiting www.ECFLV.org.