Volunteering with the Quantum House Chef for a Day Program

JB Thompson III studies political science and business at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania, where he is a member of the varsity golf team. Dedicated to giving back, JB Thompson has been involved in raising money for several charities through his membership in Sigma Phi Epsilon. He has also supported Quantum House, a social services organization located in Florida.

The mission of Quantum House is to provide a supportive home for families of children being treated for serious medical conditions. One way to support Quantum House is by volunteering with the "Chef for a Day" program. 

In this unique program, a group of "chefs" (family members, coworkers, friends) work together to plan, purchase, and cook a dinner for the residents of Quantum House. The meals are prepared in the well-equipped kitchen of Quantum House, and participants have the opportunity to cook alongside celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse.

Groups interested in participating in Chef for a Day must submit an application online. Chosen groups are asked to confirm the menu with the manager of family programs and operations. 

Most of the time, Quantum House has between 60 and 70 guests who must be fed, but the actual numbers are sent to participating groups at least one week in advance. Cooks can also join residents for dinner but must include their numbers in the preparation.

Sigma Phi Epsilon’s Ruck Leadership Institute

JB Thompson III studies political science and business at Bucknell University in Pennsylvania. The former Florida resident is working toward an internship at a Wall Street firm. Demonstrating an ability to lead, JB Thompson III is a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon and served as the fraternity’s kitchen manager and recruit chair.

Since 1901, Sigma Phi Epsilon, or SigEp, has been instilling in its members the principles of diligence, brotherly love, and virtue. The fraternity accomplishes this through numerous programs, such as the five-day Frank J. Ruck Leadership Institute event. The annual Ruck Leadership Institute, designed for rising leaders in SigEp’s ranks, focuses on building personal leadership skills and promoting the fraternity’s "Balanced Man Ideal" of "living a life encompassing sound mind and sound body."

Conceived in 1998, the Ruck Leadership Institute formed its curriculum based on the book, The Leadership Challenge, by James Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner. Since the institute's inception, it has pushed participants to explore their potential by stretching them mentally and physically. 

Ruck participants learn about their leadership styles and how those styles work in varying situations. All Ruck scholars, guided by SigEp alumni as mentors, compete in a myriad of challenges while learning about leadership.

Jb Thompson Golf