This Saturday, Spanish chef José Andrés received the highest civilian distinction in the United States, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, from the outgoing president of the United States, Joe Biden, in a ceremony.
“With his unmatched personality and heart, José Andrés teaches us that there is a place for everyone at the table”said the presenter of the ceremony, just before the president proceeded to present the medal.
The medal is awarded to people “who have made exemplary contributions to the prosperity, values or security of the United States, world peace, or other important social, public or private endeavors”as recalled by the White House in an announcement made by the North American media.
“For the last time as president, I have the honor of awarding the Medal of Freedom, our nation’s highest civilian honor, to a group of extraordinary people who gave of themselves to shape the culture and cause of the United States,” said the president-elect in the inaugural address.
José Andrés was joined by 18 other personalities from politics and culture, such as the soccer player Lionel Messi – who did not attend the ceremony -, the actors Michael J. Fox and Denzel Washington, the basketball player Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson , the singer Bonoformer Secretary of State Hillary Clinton or financier George Soros.
José Andrés is the creator of World Central Kitchen, a non-governmental organization dedicated to providing food around the world that emerged in 2010 following the earthquake that Haiti suffered that year, with the aim of providing food aid in countries suffering from food crises. .
The organization expanded and although initially focused on resilience programs, they began to provide food aid services to refugees and people from countries in conflict.
On his social networks, the chef has left a message of gratitude: “I owe this tremendous honor to so many people who have shown me the true meaning of empathy, of generosity, of putting oneself at the service of others. For my family, my friends , my partners… And to every cook and chef around the world who inspires me by feeding humanity every day and moving us forward… I say: thank you!”
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