Giving Tuesday is a global generosity movement unleashing the power of radical generosity. GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Since then, it has grown into a year-round global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity. On this "Giving Tuesday" we are focusing on the hospitality industry and our partnership with Kent hospitality group. This year's Giving Tuesday is honoring Chef Jamal "James" Kent, our late friend and trailblazer within the hospitality industry. Not only did he co-found some of the most impressive restaurants and bars in NYC scene such as Saga, Crown Shy, and Overstory. He also continuously supported our goal, to continue to diversify the hospitality space. During a tough fundraising season, Ikimi Roots Fund CEO met Chef Jamal. They instantly hit it off with a mutual passion for helping others in hospitality. Jamal took action to be a part of our great work. To honor our commitment to support the restaurant and hospitality industry we honor Chef Jamal “James” Kent with a scholarship in his name, “It was All a Dream” Jamal Kent Hospitality Scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded twice a year to minority hospitality workers who are looking to advance their education in wine and spirits. The Kent Hospitality Group will be involved in selecting the recipients.

Kent Hospitality Group is a partnership between visionary Chef Jamal “James” Kent and entrepreneur-led private equity platform SC Holdings.

In late 2017, Chef Jamal James Kent partnered with investment firm SC Holdings to open a pair of restaurants and a cocktail bar in the landmark Art Deco building at 70 Pine Street in Manhattan’s Financial District. Crown Shy, the first of those restaurants, opened in March of 2019 and earned a Michelin star less than a year later. Saga, a fine-dining restaurant in the tiered spire of the building, opened in August of 2021. Overstory, a cocktail bar one floor above Saga, opened a few weeks later. In October 2022, Saga was awarded two Michelin stars; the same month, Overstory was named #34 on its list of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Saga has retained its two Michelin stars, and in 2023 was inducted into Relais & Châteaux. Overstory has since ascended the 50 Best Bars rankings – sitting at #3 in North America and #17 in the World in 2023. Following Kent’s unexpected passing in the summer of 2024, the business was renamed in his honor.

In late 2024, Kent Hospitality Group opened Time and Tide, a fish house at 360 Park Avenue South. In 2025, the group will open Birdee, an all-day restaurant in Domino Park on the Williamsburg waterfront.

"It Was All A Dream" Jamal Kent Scholaarship

By Roots Fund Incorporated

"It Was All A Dream" Jamal Kent Scholaarship

Celebrate this Giving Tuesday honoring our hospitality professionals