The donation was earned through food and beverage sales at this summer's Taste of Chicago.
The money is earmarked for a program called Kitchens which teaches people marketable food industry job skills.
"For nearly 10 years, this program has been aiding unemployed, underemployed adults in Cook County who have a passion for life in the kitchen and a desire to achieve entry level employment in the food service industry," said Mayor Daley.
Students participating in the Kitchen's program prepare nearly 2,000 meals a day which are provided to hungry children after school.
