Boys Who Cook — Program Host Agreement and Release of Liability
Thank you for inviting Boys Who Cook to lead a program with your group. Boys Who Cook is a volunteer-run youth nonprofit that uses culinary education to build confidence, independence, teamwork, and real-life skills in young people, and to challenge the idea that cooking belongs to one gender. Because our programs take place at your facility with your participants and your staff, this short agreement confirms who handles what on the day of the event.
1. About the Program
The Program is a youth development program taught through cooking. Participants prepare food together, but the purpose is broader than a cooking class or a cooking party: the Program is designed to build confidence, independence, patience, creativity, teamwork, and self-reliance, and to give every participant a space to take risks and feel proud of what they create.
2. Who Is Covered by This Agreement
In this agreement, the "Boys Who Cook Parties" means Boys Who Cook; its founder Shaan Bhavsar and his parents and legal guardians; and its officers, members, volunteers, instructors, mentors, helpers, and agents. Boys Who Cook is led by a minor with the knowledge and consent of his legal guardians, and all Boys Who Cook Parties serve as unpaid volunteers.
3. What Boys Who Cook Provides
Boys Who Cook will plan and lead the Program, provide the curriculum and recipe, and deliver the instruction. Boys Who Cook provides instruction only. It does not provide supervision of participants, custody or care of minors, or medical services.
4. Ingredients, Supplies, and Equipment
Whichever party supplies an item is responsible for selecting, purchasing, transporting, storing, and handling it safely, for its condition and fitness for use, and for accurately identifying its ingredients and allergens to the other party. Where the Host supplies any item, the Host warrants that it meets these standards, and the Boys Who Cook Parties are not responsible for any claim arising from an item the Host supplied.
5. What the Host Provides
The Host provides the facility, prep space, tables, sinks, running water, cleaning and waste disposal, first aid supplies, and access to a working telephone. The Host warrants that the space and any equipment it supplies are clean, safe, in good working order, and permitted for food preparation with minors.
6. Supervision and Care of Participants
The Host keeps full responsibility for the supervision, discipline, safety, sign-in and sign-out, and general care of all participants at all times, before, during, and after the Program. Boys Who Cook Parties are guests providing instruction and are not responsible for supervision or custody of any participant.
7. Participant Consents, Waivers, and Screening
The Host is responsible for registering and screening participants and for collecting from each participant's parent or legal guardian every consent, medical authorization, photo release, and liability release the Host requires or that applicable law requires. The Host will make sure those releases name the Boys Who Cook Parties among the released and indemnified parties.
8. Allergies, Dietary Needs, and Food Safety
The Host will collect all known food allergies, sensitivities, and dietary needs and provide them to Boys Who Cook in writing at least five days before the Program. The Host remains responsible for confirming that each participant may safely handle and eat the ingredients used, and for keeping emergency medication such as epinephrine on site.
9. Assumption of Risk
The Host understands that cooking is hands-on and carries risks including: cuts or scrapes from knives or tools; burns or scalds from hot food or surfaces; slips, trips, and falls; allergic reactions including anaphylaxis; foodborne illness; choking; and illness from communicable diseases. The Host voluntarily accepts these risks on behalf of itself, its officers, employees, volunteers, and participants.
10. Release and Waiver of Liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Host releases, waives, and gives up the right to make any legal claim against the Boys Who Cook Parties for any and all claims, causes of action, liabilities, damages, costs, and expenses arising out of or related to the Program, including claims arising from the ordinary negligence of any of the Boys Who Cook Parties.
11. Indemnification and Hold Harmless
To the fullest extent permitted by law, the Host will defend, indemnify, and hold the Boys Who Cook Parties harmless from any claim, demand, loss, liability, cost, or expense brought by or on behalf of any participant, parent or guardian, staff member, volunteer, or other third party arising out of or related to the Program, the facility, the Host's supervision of participants, or any item the Host supplied.
12. Insurance
The Host confirms that it maintains general liability insurance covering the facility, its staff, and activities of this kind, and that Boys Who Cook is not required to carry or provide evidence of insurance as a condition of the Program.
13. No Fee, No Employment, No Agency
The Program is provided at no charge on a volunteer basis. Nothing in this agreement creates an employment, agency, partnership, or joint venture relationship between the Host and any of the Boys Who Cook Parties.
14. Limit on Any Remaining Liability
Because the Program is provided free of charge by volunteers, the total combined liability of the Boys Who Cook Parties for any claim arising out of or related to the Program will not exceed one hundred dollars ($100).
15. Photos and Media
Boys Who Cook may photograph or record the Program and use those images for educational, promotional, and fundraising purposes, without compensation, subject to the consents the Host has collected. The Host will tell Boys Who Cook before the Program about any participant who should not be photographed.
16. Cancellation
Either party may cancel the Program by written notice as early as reasonably possible, and neither party owes the other any fee or damages.
17. Authority to Sign
The person signing for the Host confirms that he or she is authorized to sign this agreement on the Host's behalf and to bind the Host to its terms.
18. Governing Law and Entire Agreement
This agreement is governed by the laws of the State of California, with venue in Orange County, California. It reflects the entire understanding between the parties on this subject.
19. Acknowledgment
The Host has read this agreement and understands its terms.
Thank you for helping us keep every young cook safe. We can't wait to get cooking!