NEW JERSEY – The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation helped make another dream come true through its Dream Day Contest which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. Based on our book, Growing Up With Loukoumi, the Dream Day Contest gives kids the opportunity to spend a day in their dream day careers.

When 9 year old Melina Kokkalas grows up, she wants to be a chef and own her own restaurant for people in need – people that might not be able to afford a nutritious meal… and that is exactly what the JBJ Soul Kitchen does. JBJ Soul Kitchen is a non-profit community restaurant, run by the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation, that serves paying and in need customers.

Melina assisted the restaurant with pre-dinner preparations, and helped pick organic vegetables from the lush garden on premises. She also enjoyed a delicious three course dinner with her Mom and Loukoumi Foundation President Nick Katsoris, and was treated to a very special visit from Jon Bon Jovi himself. The Grammy Award-winning rock star and renowned philanthropist spoke with Melina about her Dream Day, offering her encouraging words followed by photos.

“Special thanks to everyone at this amazing place for cooking up the perfect Dream Day for our latest national contest winner,” Katsoris told The National Herald adding that “In fact, Melina is so inspired that she and the Loukoumi Foundation now want to help raise funds for the JBJ Soul Kitchen. Stay tuned for more details.”

More on the Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation and the Dream Day Contest is available online: LoukoumiFoundation.org.

More information on the JBJ Soul Kitchen is also online: JBJSoulkitchen.org.

The Loukoumi Make A Difference Foundation’s Dream Day for Melina Kokkalas included meeting rock star Jon Bon Jovi at JBJ Soul Kitchen, a community restaurant and a program of the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. Photo: Nick Katsoris