About the American Friends

The American Friends of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery is a tax-exempt U.S. organization founded to support the Symposium community around the world.

The American Friends of the Oxford Symposium on Food and Cookery develops sources of support working with individuals and institutions.

Through a series of annual grants, we have partnered with The Julia Child Foundation to support increasing Symposium participation by the rising generation of food scholars around the world. We also partner with The Julia Child Foundation to provide support for the Symposium’s annual Young Chef program to increase participation by chefs in the early stages of their careers. American Friends also provides funding for special needs that arise in the Symposium community, such as the significant financial support required in 2020 to build and launch the infrastructure for the virtual Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery.

The American Friends’ officers are:

Doug Duda, president

Richard Shepro, treasurer

Laura Shapiro, secretary

Mary Margaret Chappell, director of communications

To make a U.S. tax-deductible donation to the American Friends, or to express interest in contributing time or other support, please contact us.