Chef Aldo Zilli and Lizzie Cundy celebrate Thanksgiving with a meal for the homeless

Students from American InterContinental University London, along with successful model and presenter Lizzie Cundy and celebrity chef Aldo Zilli, celebrated the American holiday of Thanksgiving, on 22^rd November 2012 by providing a meal for local homeless women. The traditional meal of roast turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potato, stuffing and gravy was provided to more than 50 homeless women at the Marylebone Project, based on Cosway Street, Marylebone. 

The Marylebone Project works with vulnerable homeless women to help empower them towards independent living through making informed choices.

Dr. Randolf Cooper, Campus Director and Vice President of Academic Affairs at AIU London, which is also based in Marylebone, said: “Thanksgiving was first formally celebrated in America by the Pilgrims during the autumn of 1621. The 53 surviving Pilgrims celebrated their successful harvest, as was the English custom. Today Americans celebrate Thanksgiving without a religious connotation; the emphasis is on abundance and family. We are happy to share that spirit with the community and delighted that our students can be involved in supporting a local charity such as the Marylebone Project.”

Students from AIU London, also based in Marylebone on Marylebone High Street, were on hand to help serve the Thanksgiving meal. Inspirational successful single mother Lizzie Cundy and celebrity chef Aldo Zilli joined in the festivities by helping to carve the giant turkey and serve the food. American flags and pumpkins decorated the room as the women enjoyed the seasonal feast.

Lizzie said: “I love the idea of Thanksgiving and am thrilled to be getting in the American spirit with the women of the Marylebone Project and the students of AIU London. To be able to celebrate with these fabulous, inspiring women is a real honour.”

Aldo said: “The American spirit of Thanksgiving is a great way to bring people together and I am delighted to have been part of the Marylebone Project with the students of AIU London.” 

Founded in 1970, AIU London has four key faculties: Business, Fashion, Interior Design and Visual Communication and offers US and UK bachelor’s degrees, as well as a Master’s in Business Administration.  Students can study one course and earn two degrees, one British and one American. AIU London design programmes are validated by the University for the Creative Arts www.ucreative.ac.uk to award BA (Hons) degrees in Fashion Design, Fashion Marketing, Fashion Marketing and Design, Interior Design and Visual Communication. The AIU London BA (Hons) and MBA business programmes are validated by Buckinghamshire New University www.bucks.ac.uk to award BA (Hons) and MBA degrees.

 AIU is accredited in the United States by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association, a regional accrediting body for U.S. degrees.

For more information, please visit http://www.aiuniv.edu/London