Les Dames d’Escoffier International Now Accepting Nominations for the 2025 Woman of Purpose Award
Presented in Partnership with YETI®
New York, New York [March 13, 2025] – Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is proud to announce the call for nominations for the 2025 Woman of Purpose Award presented in partnership with YETI®. This prestigious biennial award honors an exceptional Dame who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to making a positive impact in local or global communities, particularly in the areas of global sustainability, food justice, and public health.
The Woman of Purpose Award celebrates a visionary leader who has dedicated her efforts to improving the food system, inspiring others, and driving meaningful change. It is presented every other year at the LDEI Conference, alternating with the Grande Dame Award.
"The incredible honor of the Woman of Purpose Award inspires me to keep pushing boundaries—using food as a tool to connect, whether through writing, mentoring, or driving change,” said Dame Nina Mukerjee Furstenau, the 2023 Woman of Purpose honoree. “This award will always be a powerful reminder to continue helping others see food in new ways and to elevate the deep cultural and historical connections we all share through food stories.”
This year, LDEI has introduced two key enhancements to the nomination process:
- Woman of Purpose Growth Grant New Streamlined Application – Applicants for the Woman of Purpose will automatically be included in the Woman of Purpose Growth Grants the following year, eliminating the previous requirement to re-apply. This change reinforces LDEI’s commitment to supporting awardees in expanding their impact.
- New Judging Process – Applications will be judged by a panel of judges selected by the Awards Committee, ensuring greater consistency across both the Woman of Purpose and Grande Dame Awards.
To be considered for the LDEI Woman of Purpose Award, nominees must meet the following criteria:
- Nominees must be active LDEI members in good standing for at least three years.
- The nominee must demonstrate a commitment to at least one of the following areas, making a tangible impact at the local, national, or international level: Global sustainability, Food justice, Public health, Farming & agriculture, Food waste systems, Culinary education, Shaping the way we think about food.
- Nominees must be nominated by an LDEI Chapter or another Dame.
- Both the nominee and nominator must submit a short essay (maximum 1,500 words) detailing the nominee’s contributions, alignment with LDEI’s mission, and vision for using the $10,000 prize to further their work.
- The nominee agrees to provide supporting materials and attend the award ceremony at the LDEI Annual Conference.
The 2025 Woman of Purpose Award winner will receive a $10,000 prize to further her philanthropic work, a customized YETI prize package featuring the LDEI Woman of Purpose logo, full coverage of conference expenses, including transportation, registration, and lodging at the LDEI Annual Conference.
For more information, including nomination criteria and submission details, please visit www.ldei.org/awards/woman-of-purpose/ or email info@ldei.org.
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About Les Dames d’Escoffier International
Les Dames is an international organization of women leaders who create a supportive culture in their communities to achieve excellence in the fields of food, beverage, and hospitality. The organization’s 2,800 members in 42 chapters in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy provide leadership, educational opportunities, and philanthropy. Since its founding in 1985, Les Dames chapters have raised and donated more than $10 million to educational, community non-profits, and philanthropic organizations. For more information, visit www.ldei.org and follow Les Dames on Instagram @lesdamesintl and Facebook @Les Dames d'Escoffier Int'l.
