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David Erceg Endowment
David Erceg began his 23 year career with Concordia Language Villages in 1980 as head cook
of Waldsee Vergas. In that summer, he changed the concept of food service at Concordia
Language Villages. Instead of pizza, hot dogs, and gelatin, villagers ate Rouladen,
Wiener Schnitzel, and Rehrücken. Now, David is known as the one who introduced culturally
authentic cuisine into the Language Villages cultural immersion philosophy. As food service
manager, not only did David give the program ethnic meals, but he gave the cooks the
tools to create them: cookbooks, authentic ingredients, and state of the art kitchens.
David Erceg’s contributions to Concordia Language Villages have been remarkable in many
lasting ways. His expertise, creativity, and vision have coached hundreds of others to
become skilled in preparing and presenting homemade meals that reflect the cultures of
the world, with ingredients and techniques they knew nothing about before. It is an
enrichment, not only of the depth of the immersion experience but, and maybe even more
so, an enrichment of skills and the personal lives of all who have been touched by David
in the process.
In honor of David and his far-reaching influence, a permanent endowment fund known as
the David Erceg Endowment for Food Service Staff Development was established in October,
2003. The income from this endowment will assure that the food service staff of Concordia
Language Villages will have professional development opportunities for generations of
cooks to come. Individual scholarships could support attendance at baking and culinary
schools domestically or abroad, internships at ethnic restaurants, or family stays abroad.
Proceeds from the endowment fund will also facilitate the acquisition of additional resource
materials, guest speakers, or scholarships for cooking staff.
For information on how to give, please visit
Giving.
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