Kitchener Comfort Foods Press Release
Kitchener, ON - May 3, 2007

Kitchener Comfort Food Announces Funding for Special Needs Students

Michael Drick is a small man with big dreams. At 4'8", Michael believes "lack of height and its accompanying problems do not equal lack of talent!" After a long struggle, Michael, a special needs adult, is finally able to pursue his dream of becoming a chef with a bursary from Kitchener Comfort Foods. Although unemployed and taking care of his elderly mother, who suffers from Parkinson's Disease, Michael single-mindedly pursued his goal with determination and tenacity. He would not take no for an answer.

Michael started the Culinary Management with Personal Chef program at Liaison College on April 16, 2007. He cares about all issues related to healthy eating and is concerned about how people's life styles have changed the way they eat. He hopes to use his training to pursue a career using his cooking skills to help people, especially the elderly, learn how eat nutritious food that tastes great. And, he says, "I also look damn good in chef whites!"

The number one thing that frustrates Michael is people not believing in him or giving him the chance to prove himself. "It seems I have to go a lot further to prove myself. People sometimes look on the outside more than what's on the inside." What makes Michael unique is that there is no one out there like him. "I am the Tiger. I roar, and I love it. I also love this world, and I'm going to soar and go like a whirlwind. Try and catch me!"

Read The Record article on Michael.

The Board of Directors of Kitchener Comfort Foods look forward to watching Michael learn and grow as they help him work toward his goal. Kevin Kelly, the first special needs graduate funded in 2006 is now working at his dream job as a cook for Health Sciences Canada in St. John's, Newfoundland. Kitchener Comfort Foods hopes to to help five special needs students fund their training in the culinary arts in 2007.

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