The Seattle based charity FareStart helps the homeless and other members of society to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training and employment in the food service industry...

The social enterprise was launched in 1992 and since then its students have produced millions of meals for vulnerable people in homeless shelters and other community centres...

FareStart has special anniversary events happening throughout 2012 including the org's 20th annual Great Food, Better Lives Gala and Auction on Sunday, October 14, at The Skybridge at the Washington State Convention Center, Seattle...

The annual auction, raising funds to support student training, will include a silent auction, live auction, reception, food, drinks, entertainment, etc in Seattle with all proceeds benefitting the non-profit...

FareStart's success as a social enterprise is all about empowering people to transform their lives with practical skills and achievable goals through culinary job training...

Over the past 20 years the non-profit says it has helped 6,000 people receive training and life skills while serving more than five million meals to the disadvantaged...

In 2011 it launched its Catalyst Kitchens, a national network of different partners, all about empowering and transforming lives through job training...

FareStart's Catalyst Kitchens was named the winner of Social Impact Exchange’s 2012 Business Plan Competition this year...

The competition identifies social sector initiatives with demonstrated impact and readiness to grow, and supports the winners with a financial award and pro-bono consulting service.

FareStart will use the funds and services to grow its national network of member organisations and extend its work further across the USA...

Currently, more than 80 per cent of FareStart’s graduates achieve employment within 90 days of graduation...

Catalyst Kitchens national network includes Life’s Kitchen, Boise, Idaho, Liberty’s Kitchen, New Orleans, and DC Central Kitchen in Washington DC amongst others...

Part of the non-profit's services include a graduate support programme providing ongoing guidance to graduates,

providing a full year or more of support to help individuals move forward to self-sufficiency.