Chef José Andrés embodies the extraordinary power of food—not only as a source of nourishment but as a vehicle for hope, resilience, and compassion. With roots in Mieres, Spain, Andrés grew up understanding food’s ability to bring people together, and he transformed that belief into a career of culinary innovation and humanitarian action. Trained under the legendary Ferran Adrià, he brought tapas and modern Spanish cuisine to the United States, redefining the American culinary landscape and establishing himself as a trailblazer with celebrated restaurants across the country.
Driven by a profound commitment to serve, Andrés took his passion for food beyond the kitchen and into the frontlines of disaster relief. In 2010, he founded World Central Kitchen (WCK), a nonprofit born from his unwavering conviction that food could offer comfort and restore dignity in times of crisis. What began as a mission to provide meals following the 2010 Haiti earthquake has since grown into a global force, delivering millions of meals in over a dozen countries affected by hurricanes, fires, floods, and conflict. José and his team deploy swiftly, often among the first responders, providing a lifeline of freshly prepared meals that nourish both body and spirit.
His work in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria remains a powerful example of his courage and determination. While others discussed aid logistics, José and WCK volunteers set up kitchens, mobilizing local chefs, feeding hospitals, neighborhoods, and entire communities, serving over 3 million meals in the face of bureaucratic challenges. In recent years, WCK’s presence has been seen from refugee camps at the Poland-Ukraine border to fire-ravaged towns in California and earthquake-stricken areas in Turkey.
In every crisis, Chef José Andrés shows us that empathy and action can make a world of difference. His unique blend of culinary brilliance and selfless service has earned him numerous awards, yet his greatest accomplishment is perhaps the hope he brings to the world. Andrés leads with the belief that feeding people is about more than food—it’s about connection, courage, and compassion in the most challenging times.
World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a nonprofit organisation founded by Chef José Andrés in 2010, dedicated to providing food relief in the aftermath of natural and humanitarian disasters. Operating on the belief that “food is a universal human right,” WCK mobilizes quickly to serve nourishing, freshly prepared meals to communities affected by crises, often setting up field kitchens and working directly with local chefs and volunteers to reach areas in need.
WCK’s efforts began in response to the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, where José Andrés realized the power of food to restore hope and comfort to people experiencing crisis. Since then, WCK has grown into a global organization, responding to emergencies worldwide, from hurricanes in Puerto Rico and wildfires in California to conflict zones like Ukraine. When COVID-19 struck, WCK also played a significant role by supporting frontline workers and vulnerable communities, delivering millions of meals to those in need.
What makes WCK unique is its “first to the frontlines” approach: deploying immediately, leveraging local food systems, and remaining agile to address challenges as they arise. WCK operates under a powerful philosophy—offering food as a source of dignity and healing during some of the most challenging times in people’s lives. This rapid-response model has made it one of the most effective and visible humanitarian organizations in the world, reaching millions of people across dozens of countries.