The Chef William-Allen Peterson Culinary Arts Foundation is organized as an everlasting tribute to the legacy of our beloved “Will” by the Peterson family. Chef Will was a passionate culinary arts professional, son, brother and devoted husband.

In this endeavor, the Peterson family is lovingly supported by Team Black Dog 31. Pups “Marley” and “Hendrix” (Bob and Jimmy) were adopted from the Charlotte, NC Humane Society in the sorrowful days after Will’s untimely passing. Ironically or perhaps divinely from Heaven, on a particularly difficult evening when our family was making funeral arrangements to lay Will to rest, a local Charlotte television newscast featured two dogs needing loving forever homes. These pups deeply touched the very soul of Pamela, William’s mother and she decided that very night, they would both be going back to our home in Virginia.

Early the next morning at the Charlotte Humane Society after a lot of “on-and-off” adoption negotiation for both dogs, Marley and Hendrix became part of the Peterson family. As we sat down to do the Humane Society adoption paperwork, Matthew (William’s brother) and Jo (Matthew’s wife) noticed a sign lit by the bright morning sunlight on the wall just above our seats. At first it was difficult to process what we were reading, but then it struck us all as William and Matthew are both “dog whisperers”.

These intensely affectionate rescue pups were being adopted in a facility dedicated to “William P. Allan”. A mere coincidence? We think not, these pups were brought to our family as a gift from God and William’s loving spirit in our darkest hours and at the time of our greatest need for comfort and compassion.  Sister Marley and brother Hendrix’ rambunctious boundless energy, joyfulness and endless love help fuel the Chef William-Allen Peterson Culinary Arts Foundation mission to assist young aspiring men and women pursuing careers in culinary arts in the good name of our son, brother and husband, William-Allen Peterson.