LEXINGTON, Ky. — Rob Perez, owner of DV8 Kitchen in Lexington, received national recognition for his work offering second-chance employment through the kitchen’s Vocational Training Foundation.

The AARP Purpose Prize Awards honor people 50 and over who have proven that they are using their knowledge and life experience to make a difference. Perez was named as part of this year’s class of 10 fellows who each receive an award of $10,000 and a year of technical support to help broaden the scope of their organization’s work.

“Our Purpose Prize winners and Fellows are shining examples of a simple, yet profound truth: When we find our sense of purpose—that certain something that gives us a reason to get up and get going every day—we not only give meaning to our own lives; we make the world a better place for everyone,” said AARP CEO Jo Ann Jenkins.

“We are humbled to be a part of the amazing group of social entrepreneurs assembled by AARP and hope to represent the mission of second chance employment in a meaningful way long into the future,” said Rob Perez of DV8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation.

Perez said DV8 plans to use the funding to formalize a curriculum that will further support his employees. “Not only did it provide us with some money to try to advance the idea that we want to go much deeper into our staff members’ recovery… assist them with building a career, removing barriers and really understanding how to live in recovery, but also to try to figure out how to build those business solutions and share them with other businesses," he shared.

DV8 Kitchen offers second chance employment for people in the early stages of substance use disorder recovery. DV8’s goal is to serve life changing food, have social impact, spiritual touch and a sustainable business.

The DV8 Kitchen Vocation Training Foundation was established and operates to over employees a chance to practice the principles of recovery and assist in building a path to a career.

“We started DV8 for a couple of reasons. Number one, lived experience. I have a background of addiction. I went through rehab at 25 and because my wife wanted to live out her faith in a more meaningful way and used our lived experience to help people,” Perez explained.

The kitchen is open daily for breakfast, brunch and lunch with locations on South Broadway and the East End. It also operates a wholesale bakery.

Perez was named a fellow alongside recipients from California, Illinois, Connecticut, New York and Washington.