Pledge of Support for Taste Project Arlington

Distinguished Arlington entrepreneur and global businessman, Husien “Sam” Mahrouq and his wife Rania Mahrouq, have pledged $100,000 to support Taste Project’s new location in Arlington. 

Mr. Mahrouq is the chairman and CEO of MEI Group and ikon Technologies. He is also a graduate of UTA College of Business which is what he says fuels his commitment and personal connection to the mission of Taste Project. “This project is close to my heart because it encompasses feeding two very important groups of people, the hungry and UTA students,” says Sam Mahrouq. “I remember, in the beginning when I was a student, I lived on meals that cost $0.99. Taste Project provides healthy meals for whatever a student can afford.”

Taste Project founder, Jeff Williams, understands all too well what this is like. Growing up in a family where food was sometimes scarce, Jeff watched his parents skip meals so his sister and he could eat. Today, families like Jeff’s and students like Sam can enjoy a healthy, nutritious meal at Taste Community Restaurant, a nonprofit, pay-what-you-can restaurant that focuses on healthy, chef-prepared meals made from fresh ingredients that are available to all. Taste Community Restaurant has become a beacon of hope and support for individuals and families facing hunger and food insecurity.

Sam Mahrouq
Photo courtesy of Taste Project

To date, Taste Project has raised nearly $2.3M. To help expedite the remaining funding needed for renovations to open this summer, Sam and Rania Mahrouq have generously pledged $100,000. Furthermore, they’ve agreed to match donations made before summer, dollar-for-dollar, to secure an additional $275,000!

“My heart is to feed, educate, and serve our community, and we are blessed this is a mission close to Sam’s heart as well,” says Jeff Williams, founder and executive director of Taste Project. “We are grateful for the generous pledge and match from Sam and Rania that brings us closer to opening day.”

Taste Project is in the process of renovating the city-owned building at 200 N Cooper Street, formerly used by the Water Utilities Department and the Arlington Public Library, into a 100-plus seat full-service restaurant that includes a production kitchen, culinary training classroom, and headquarter office. Programing is funded in part by Texas Health Resources and will mirror services offered in Fort Worth including breakfast, lunch, and brunch pay-what-you-can meal services; and for those who need more than a meal, culinary job training, financial workshops, nutrition counseling, and healthy living assessments are also offered.    

Image courtesy of Taste Project

Located within walking distance of UTA, Texas Health Resources Arlington Memorial Hospital, and numerous Downtown homes and businesses, the future Arlington restaurant will bring affordable healthy food choices where they are needed most in Arlington. The project will also add one of Yelp’s Top 100 Best Places to Eat to Arlington’s growing list of dining options in Downtown.

With support from philanthropists like Sam and Rania Mahrouq, Taste Project is poised to make an even greater impact on the lives of UTA Students and Arlington residents as they anxiously await the launch of the next Taste Community Restaurant.

Don’t miss your chance to be a part of Taste Community Restaurant in Arlington. You can help feed our community, nourish college students, and pave the way for a brighter future through job training and stability with your special opening day gift. And if you give before summer, Sam and Rania Mahrouq will match your donation and double your impact!  

For more information on how to support Taste Project and its Arlington Capital Campaign, please visit www.tasteproject.org/arlington.

Image courtesy of Taste Project