Guy Fieri helps raise money for new GLOW Academy building

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — After three days, celebrity chef Guy Fieri’s time in the Port City is coming to an end.

He said he was very impressed with what Wilmington had to offer.

“The beaches are amazing. Everybody in North Carolina, I think to be from North Carolina, you have to be nice, everybody’s nice. And the food was great,” said Fieri.

He had one little piece of business to finish before he left Friday, and that was to help the students of GLOW Academy.

He was the special guest at a breakfast and luncheon fundraiser for the school’s new building, the design of which was unveiled to the kids for the first time.

“I told the young ladies, I said, ‘I came all the way from California. I don’t know any of you, but I know what you’re about and I know what we’re trying to do. So remember that, I am making my investment and you’ll have your chance to make your investment, when you get to the next stage.’ We all have to bring each other up, that’s what community’s all about,” said Fieri.

GLOW Academy founder Judy Girard said by the end of the breakfast, they had raised at least $200,000 for the students.

She says Fieri being there was a huge part of why the event was so successful.

“He has helped raise a lot of money and he’s taped two of the three D shows here so Wilmington’s gonna be on the map on two shows. He’s just an unbelievably generous and wonderful person,” said Girard.

Girard said the goal is to have the new building ready for fall of 2019. They want to break ground by April.

We’ve had a lot of viewers asking when our area will be featured on “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives.” Fieri says the restaurants he visited will air in the next eight weeks on the Food Network.