RYE BROOK, N.Y., Oct. 1, 2026—Giving New York City high school students with visual impairments the ability to gain valuable work experience has won Peter Klein, director of culinary development, this year’s Compass in the Community Award.
The award recognizes an associate who contributes to building stronger, healthier communities and demonstrates outstanding service or achievement. Three years ago, Klein launched a collaboration with the Educational Vision Services organization within the New York City public school system that brought students to the CulinArt dining services operation at the United Nations Headquarters, where they worked for a month during the summer learning various foodservice tasks and responsibilities.
To make this possible, Klein created a non-profit organization called The 70% Project, which works with EVS to identify participants. It draws its name from the reality that “70% of blind and visually impaired high school students graduate with no job experiences,” Klein says. “The UN sessions give these students an opportunity to have meaningful job experiences in the hospitality industry that may result in some choosing the field as a career.”
Congratulations Peter!