The Ryan Wells Foundation was formed to honor a young man that had touched so many of us during his short lifetime.

Ryan’s passion for life inspired others and made him a leader among his peers.  He possessed great dedication in all his endeavors, including the Boy Scouts, the Tarpon High School Golf team and the Interact Club.  Shortly before his death, Ryan was awarded the honor of Eagle Scout.  During his junior year, Ryan became actively involved the Culinary program at Tarpon Springs High.  At this time, his plans to become a chef and attend college for the Culinary Arts and field of Hospitality blossomed.  While returning home from a FRLA seminar at Johnson and Wales University in Miami, he was tragically killed in an automobile accident.

The purpose of the Foundation is for students to live out Ryan’s dreams by pursuing a career in the culinary or hospitality fields as he had planned.  The Foundation is also committed to helping the high school culinary programs of Pinellas County.  The students we select will hopefully go on to great heights and give back to the community as Ryan would of.  The students will be selected on both academics and extracurricular activities.

The Foundation has received a tremendous amount of support from the community for which we are truly grateful for.  The Ryan Wells Golf Classic at Innisbrook, held each December, has been a huge success.  Additionally, the "Evening with the Chefs" at the Sheraton Sand Key which features the top chefs in the county preparing gourmet food with the culinary high school students has experienced crowds of over 400 guests.  For more information about our annual events, please view the Events page.  To date, between the 70 scholarships awarded and monies given to the culinary programs, the Ryan Wells Foundation has donated over $600,000.