FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.qns.com DECEMBER 17, 2015 • THE COURIER SUN 25 SCOTT BARON’S STAR OF QUEENS ROBERT LEE CO-FOUNDER RESCUING LEFTOVER CUISINE PERSONAL BACKGROUND Robert Lee is a Gates Millennium Scholar who graduated brought to you by star OF queens SCOTT BARON & ASSOCIATES, P.C. Attorneys & Counselors at Law 1-866-WAS-HURT (866) 927-4878 718.738.9800 cum laude from New York University with a degree in finance and accounting. A child of Korean immigrants living in Queens, Lee grew up with parents who lived humbly and did not tolerate food waste. Lee continues to be deeply passionate about helping the hungry. PROFESSIONAL BACKGROUND After graduation, Lee worked at JPMorgan Chase & Co. until he decided to resign and dedicate himself full time to Rescuing Leftover Cuisine, a nonprofit he co-founded in 2013. It operates out of Flushing and is dedicated to reducing food waste by rescuing leftover food from restaurants. He currently serves as chief executive officer at the organization. GREATEST ACHIEVEMENT Lee’s greatest achievement is Rescuing Leftover Cuisine’s expansion and growth of impact this past year. The organization rescued more than 300,000 pounds of food in 2015, all food that would have otherwise been thrown away and gone to waste. Instead of being thrown into a landfill, the rescued food provided 250,000 nutritious meals for the hungry. BIGGEST CHALLENGE Lee’s biggest challenge has been acquiring the manpower to back his organization’s rapid growth. Since 2014, RLC’s impact on the community has more than quadrupled, but the nonprofit still has only two full-time staff members. Despite generous support from Blue Ridge Labs at Robin Hood and the Morgan Stanley Foundation, RLC still has a waitlist of food donors looking to donate food. Lee and RLC need more volunteers for collection and distribution. MOTIVATION TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMUNITY Lee’s Korean-American upbringing made him passionate about food waste and what can be done to prevent people in the community from going hungry. Conducting his own research and discovering that 40 percent of the food produced in the United States is wasted and one in seven Americans are food insecure, Lee knew he had to take action. Lee knows that his goals for the community are attainable: “Rescuing just 30 percent of the food that is wasted is enough nutrition to feed the entire American hungry population. Enough food is produced in this country to feed everyone.” To learn more about the organization and how to get involved, visit rescuingleftovercuisine. org. BY SUZANNE MONTEVERDI CUTLER’S LIGHTING Over 50 Years Experience REPAIRS • REWIRING • RE-FINISHING • LAMP SHADES FALL SAVINGS TAKE 20-50% OFF on yellow and red tagged items LAMP SHADE SALE 10% OFF ANY PURCHASE With Coupon. Not combinable – New Orders Only. Limit 1 per customer. $150.00 max for discount. Excludes Repairs, Refi nishing, Rewiring. Exp. 12/31/2015 CUTLER’S LIGHTING CUTLER’S LIGHTING LYNBROOK 817 Sunrise Hwy (2 Blocks west of Peninsula Blvd.) 516-887-1300 GREAT NECK 120 Northern Blvd. 516-482-1919 12 years from now, this LED bulb will still be saving you money. OFF
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