Recommendations of the Editorial team
Jon Bon Jovi added another to his collection of awards this week – this time for his charitable work. The James Beard Award Foundation officials announced on Tuesday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Fameru is one of the recipients of the Impact Award 2026, with which the foundation recognizes outstanding work and social commitment.
“Since 2006, the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation has been committed to ending the cycle of hunger, poverty and homelessness. To date, the JBJ Soul Foundation has helped provide support for nearly 1,000 affordable and social housing units in 12 states for thousands of people, including youth and veterans,” the organization said in a statement. In 2011, the JBJ Soul Foundation also founded the nonprofit community restaurant JBJ Soul Kitchen, which serves people in need as well as paying guests.
“Bon Jovi and his wife Dorothea Bongiovi expanded their mission by founding JBJ Soul Kitchen – a nonprofit pay-it-forward restaurant that has served over 234,000 healthy three-course meals at its four locations in New Jersey,” the organization continued. “JBJ Soul Kitchen offers much more than just a meal – it creates real connections with guests through community service offerings such as job training, resume assistance, job placement, collaborations with local mental health providers and access to housing resources.”
Soul Kitchen has served hundreds of thousands of meals
JBJ Soul Kitchen’s website states, “All are welcome at our table, where locally sourced ingredients, dignity and respect are always on the menu.” The restaurant encourages its guests to pay for meals for others in the spirit of pay-it-forward or to pay their own bills through volunteer work. Of the more than 234,000 meals served, 58 percent were earned through volunteer efforts and 42 percent were funded through donations.
Aside from that: Bon Jovi’s rock and roll origin story is to be made into a film – Jon Bon Jovi is personally involved in the project. The band is also embarking on the Forever Tour in July.
