The Chef Who Has Fed Presidents and Changed Lives

About This Episode

In this episode, you will:

• Develop resilience in leadership through overcoming adversity.

• Gain insights into Bruno Serato's remarkable journey from busboy to philanthropist.

• Understand the transformative impact of feeding underprivileged children on communities.

• Explore strategies for successfully transitioning motel families to permanent housing.

• Embrace the importance of paying it forward in business to create a positive impact.

Meet Bruno Serato

Bruno Serato arrived in the U.S. from his native Italy speaking no English with only $200 in his pocket. Through hard work and determination, he worked his way up from busboy to owner of the critically acclaimed The White House restaurant in Anaheim, CA. But, it’s his work with children that has earned him an international reputation. Bruno launched a nonprofit in 2005 after he and his mother, Caterina, visited a local Boys and Girls Club. There, they saw a 7-year-old boy eating a bag of potato chips and when she learned that the snack was all he had for dinner, she instructed her son to head back to the restaurant and feed the children pasta. What started with 1 meal has turned into now feeding some 5,000 children daily, more than 3 million meals have been served, and the need keeps growing. Caterina’s Club is currently serving 90 sites in 30 cities.

He has extended his mission by moving “motel families” into permanent housing. While many of the families are working and able to pay the monthly rent for their own apartments, they cannot afford the first, last and security deposit required at the onset. He has already helped over 220 families escape motel living by finding them apartments of their own and their lives have improved considerably.

For his humanitarian work, Bruno has earned local, national, and international publicity including profiles in major media outlets throughout the world. His many honors include CNN Hero, knighted by the Italian government, knighted by the Royal House of Savoy, Ellis Island Medal of Honor recipient, papal blessing from Pope Francis, humanitarian award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, Anaheim Key to the City, and has received hundreds of proclamations and awards all over the world.

Podcast Episode Resources

To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here .

To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here