Jubilee Family Development Center

Jubilee Family Development Center Jubilee provides high quality academic, athletic and occupational programs that foster personal, social and spiritual growth and the stability of families.

Our Programs provide opportunities for young people that center on educational enrichment and academic assistance, athletic programs and occupational training. Three are described below. After School Tutorial Program- 90% of students participating demonstrated academic improvement by one letter grade. Mentoring Program- Improves self-esteem, exposes youth to positive role models, increases social

awareness and teaches problem solving skills. Summer Enrichment Camp- Provides a disciplined and structured environment where children take part in high quality summer programs that blend academics, art, sports and technology which stave off summer learning loss.

Jubilee is excited to showcase the fourth chef competing in this year’s Top Chef, Chef John Barker with the University o...
08/21/2026

Jubilee is excited to showcase the fourth chef competing in this year’s Top Chef, Chef John Barker with the University of Lynchburg!

John is the Chef of Dining Services at the University of Lynchburg. A classically trained French chef with 16 years of experience in the food industry, John specializes in fine dining and competitive cooking. A graduate of PHCC, John has an Associate's Degree in Culinary Arts and an Associate's Degree in Hospitality and Management. He first moved to Lynchburg in 2018 to help open the Virginian Hotel, where he was the Sous Chef for Skyline and William & Henry under Chef Roger Murphy. Since joining the University of Lynchburg, Chef John has been a key contributor to its Award-Winning Dining Services, which currently rank 6th in the state of Virginia. In 2025, he was selected as one of only six chefs to compete in the Mid-Atlantic regional NACUFS Culinary Challenge. Competing against chefs representing institutions such as Rutgers, Penn State, Johns Hopkins, University of Richmond, and Villanova. He ultimately earned a Bronze Medal at the American Culinary Federation (ACF) sanctioned competition. Barker has also competed in the Jubilee Family Development Center’s annual Top Chef fundraiser for three consecutive years. In both 2024 and 2025, Lynchburg’s team won Best Entrée, with Barker helping create both dishes.

Extending his influence beyond just cooking, Chef John has demonstrated a strong interest in developing himself and the chefs and cooks around him. One of Barker’s most significant contributions to Lynchburg Dining Services has been his leadership in establishing the department’s American Culinary Federation (ACF) Property Membership. Barker spearheaded the initiative, viewing it as an opportunity to strengthen culinary education, professional development, certification, networking, and competition opportunities for the entire kitchen production team. Chef John hopes to add to his resume and win Best Entree for the third year in a row next Saturday at Top Chef At Jubilee!

We're looking forward to enjoying Chef John’s dishes next Saturday evening, August 29th, at Jubilee! Only a few tickets are left for this fantastic culinary experience! Please call Jubilee at 434-845-0433 or visit http://www.lynchburgtickets.com/topchef to purchase tickets. We hope to see you next Saturday at Top Chef!

Thank you to Dodson Pest Control for supporting Jubilee as a Top Chef Silver Sponsor!For many years, Dodson Pest Control...
08/21/2026

Thank you to Dodson Pest Control for supporting Jubilee as a Top Chef Silver Sponsor!

For many years, Dodson Pest Control has been a faithful partner in helping Jubilee build brighter futures through support of our After School Program, Summer Enrichment Camp, and Tom Webb Scholarship Fund. Their commitment has made a lasting difference in the lives of the youth and families we serve.

As we celebrate another incredible Top Chef event and the successful completion of our Tools for Change Capital Campaign, we're grateful to recognize partners like Dodson Pest Control who continue to invest in our mission.

Thank you, Dodson Pest Control, for your steadfast support and dedication to Jubilee. We look forward to celebrating with you on August 29 at Jubilee's Top Chef special event!

Jubilee is excited to showcase the third of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef!Since 2018, Chef Breland Grant ...
08/20/2026

Jubilee is excited to showcase the third of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef!

Since 2018, Chef Breland Grant has served the Greater Lynchburg community as a personal chef and caterer. The journey of building his business from scratch in a city where he was not a native has been both challenging and rewarding. He’s found profound joy in doing something he’s loved since childhood every single day. Starting out on his own and now with a growing team, My Father’s Hands Catering & Events LLC stands as a testament to the grace of God blended with hard work and unwavering dedication.

Over the past few years, Breland’s has had the privilege of catering for incredible individuals and participating in events that honor the achievements of businesses and families alike. His business has garnered numerous referrals from top wedding planners and venues in our area. My Father's Hands has no intention of slowing down—they’re just getting started! The unwavering support of our loyal customers and the guidance of Breland’s ever-supportive mother continue to fuel his drive. Breland firmly believes that his father and brother are smiling down on him, urging me to run faster and reach even greater heights.

Don’t miss your chance to enjoy Chef Breland’s tasty appetizer and entrée at Jubilee’s Top Chef next Saturday, August 29th! Only a handful of tickets are still available for Top Chef! Please call Jubilee at 434-845-0433 or visit http://www.lynchburgtickets.com/topchef to purchase tickets. We hope to see you next Saturday at Top Chef!

Jubilee is now accepting students ages 6 and up in our free After School Program for the 2026-2027 school year! Download...
08/20/2026

Jubilee is now accepting students ages 6 and up in our free After School Program for the 2026-2027 school year! Download an application at https://www.jubileefamily.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Jubilee-After-School-Application-2026-2027.pdf.

Jubilee's free After School Program provides local youth with dedicated homework time and tutoring with Jubilee staff and volunteers, active play in Jubilee's gym, a healthy snack, and regular enrichment opportunities in the arts and STEM. The After School Program operates until 6:00 PM, Monday through Friday. An application is required to register, and you may drop it off at Jubilee or email it to [email protected].

Don't wait! Jubilee's After School Program reaches full capacity every year. Once full, a waiting list will be created. Submit your child's application today!

Thank you to American Lawn and Landscape, LLC for joining Jubilee's Top Chef Special Event as a Silver Sponsor this year...
08/20/2026

Thank you to American Lawn and Landscape, LLC for joining Jubilee's Top Chef Special Event as a Silver Sponsor this year!

We're excited to welcome American Lawn & Landscape as a new sponsor and a valued member of the Jubilee family. Their support helps Jubilee continue transforming lives through education, workforce development, and community outreach.

We look forward to celebrating the successful completion of our Tools for Change Capital Campaign and another exciting year of serving our community alongside our friends from American Lawn & Landscape at Jubilee's Top Chef Special Event on August 29th.

Thank you, American Lawn & Landscape, for investing in a stronger community and helping build better lives!

Jubilee is excited to showcase the second of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef! Love + Umami VA is a mobile f...
08/19/2026

Jubilee is excited to showcase the second of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef! Love + Umami VA is a mobile food vendor and caterer launched in March 2026 by husband-and-wife team Amy and Kevin.

For Amy, cooking has always been a language of love. What began as cooking for friends and family grew as she shared her creations online and people began asking for recipes. In 2023, Amy entered the K-Food Cook-Off hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea and placed third, giving her confidence that her cooking could resonate beyond friends and family. After moving to Lynchburg, Kevin encouraged her to take that passion further, and Love + Umami was born.

By day, Amy teaches chemistry at a local college, bringing a scientific approach to flavor, technique, and experimentation. Kevin, with experience launching and managing food businesses, leads operations and logistics. Together, they reimagine familiar dishes with bold flavors inspired by cuisines across Asia, creating food that is approachable, creative, and comforting while respecting the flavors that By day, Amy teaches chemistry at a local college, bringing a scientific approach to flavor, technique, and experimentation. Kevin, with experience launching and managing food businesses, leads operations and logistics. Together, they reimagine familiar dishes with bold flavors inspired by cuisines across Asia, creating food that is approachable, creative, and comforting while respecting the flavors that inspire them.

Love + Umami can be found popping up at breweries, wineries, and community events throughout Lynchburg and surrounding areas, and partnered with Hill City FC for the 2026 season. Just months after launching, they have also gained local recognition with features in The News & Advance and WDBJ7.

We can’t wait to taste Amy and Kevin’s dishes for the first time ever as a Top Chef competitor next Saturday evening, August 29th, at Jubilee! Only a few tickets are still available for Top Chef! Please call Jubilee at 434-845-0433 or visit http://www.lynchburgtickets.com/topchef to purchase tickets. We hope to see you next Saturday at Top Chef!

08/19/2026

Thank you to everyone who donated new and gently used shoes for Jubilee’s Back to School Shoe Drive! This year’s event served 113 adults and 248 youth, for a total of 361 community members sporting new shoes to kick off the school year! Our Jubilee Family makes anything possible. Thank you again!

Thank you to OrthoVirginia for returning as a Gold Sponsor for Jubilee's Top Chef special event on Saturday, August 29, ...
08/19/2026

Thank you to OrthoVirginia for returning as a Gold Sponsor for Jubilee's Top Chef special event on Saturday, August 29, 2026!

For many years, OrthoVirginia has been a faithful partner in Jubilee's mission, investing in our community through generous philanthropic support and dedicated volunteer service. Their commitment has helped empower youth and families with the tools they need to build brighter futures.

We're excited to celebrate with our friends from OrthoVirginia as we mark the successful completion of our Tools for Change Capital Campaign, and look forward to the expansion of the Astronaut Leland Melvin STEM Center at Jubilee, including the OrthoVirginia classroom!

Thank you, OrthoVirginia, for your longstanding partnership and for helping make lasting change possible. We look forward to celebrating together on August 29!

Jubilee is excited to showcase the first of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef Special Event next Saturday, Au...
08/18/2026

Jubilee is excited to showcase the first of four chefs competing in this year’s Top Chef Special Event next Saturday, August 29th!

Chef Michael Knutsen of ChefKnut Catering & Small-Batch Eats is a Virginia Beach native turned Lynchburg local by marriage. He got his start at a young age, helping his Grandaddy in the kitchen. When asked about his earliest culinary memories, Chef Michael said, “I remember helping Grandaddy with his famous fried chicken. It was the best because I was the official paper-bag-shaker.” Chef Knut received his formal culinary education and training at Johnson and Wales University in Norfolk, VA, where he earned both an Associate’s Degree in Culinary Arts and a Bachelor’s Degree in Food Service Management. With fine dining internship opportunities at Blue Point in Duck, NC, and Basin Harbor Club in Vergennes, VT, under his belt, Chef Michael began his professional career in food service at Town Point Club in Norfolk, VA, where he eventually became Chef de Cuisine. Since moving to Lynchburg, Chef Knut has worked in several areas, including teaching cooking at the Old Dominion Job Corps Center in Monroe, VA, providing several cohorts with the necessary skills to enter the workforce ready to cook. In addition to culinary instruction, Chef Knut has worked with the Lynchburg Hillcats, V&T Café, and First Christian Church. Nowadays, Chef Michael delights in booking private catering events from late April through December, providing excellent meals for weddings, birthday and anniversary parties, conference events, and more.

Chef Michael Knutsen won Best Appetizer at Jubilee Top Chef in 2024, and is thrilled to return to Jubilee’s Top Chef this year! Only a few tickets are left for this fantastic culinary experience! Please call Jubilee at 434-845-0433 or visit http://www.lynchburgtickets.com/topchef to purchase tickets. We hope to see you next Saturday at Top Chef!

Address

1512 Florida Avenue
Lynchburg, VA
24501

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+14348450433

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Jubilee Family Development Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Jubilee Family Development Center:

Shortcuts

Share

Category