31 Lives
Ascend Hospitality Group (AHG) invests wholly in both our team members and our guests to take service to the next level, and ultimately commits to elevating the communities we serve.
Based on our core values of YOU MATTER, TEAM MATTERS, SERVICE MATTERS, AHG launched AHG Cares, our philanthropic arm of the company. Through AHG Cares, we are able to hone our philanthropic efforts through various programs and collaborations with a positive community impact.
The inaugural initiative for AHG Cares was 31 Lives, Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi’s program designed to fund scholarships and internships for aspiring culinarians, as well as, contribute professional expertise and tools (pro-bono) to elevate culinary education in the Puget Sound.
Since launching on 5/31/18 at 5:31pm on the 31st floor of Lincoln South Tower, the 31 Lives program used proceeds from the first 31 reservations of Ascend Prime Steak & Sushi upon its grand opening to kick-off funding for the program, and has evolved over the years to focus on providing opportunities for high school students and young adults in the restaurant industry.
“Within 31 Lives, we aspire to cultivate the desire of working and thriving within the restaurant hospitality industry,” says Executive Chef Brandon Muehl, who leads each of his culinary interns throughout the entire program. “We work with each individual to discover their strengths and create a final project together that they will prep, execute, and present to the team here and in front of their class.”
Our 31 Lives interns learn the restaurant business from the inside out, from menu planning and prep work to understanding the operations, such as managing guest flow from front to back of house, supply chain communications, and more.
Ascend Prime and AHG Cares believe this initiative will help position the broader education community to create incredible opportunities for those who are passionate about culinary.
In addition to 31 Lives, AHG Cares is most proud of our three other internal programs: AHG Has Your Back, the Community Cocktail, and the Bellevue New Year’s Eve Night Market.