Annual Chef Showdown fundraiser will benefit struggling families during festivities in the community Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub, located at 580 Exchange Court, Aurora. (Photo Courtesy Loaves & Fishes 2024)
Loaves & Fishes Community Services has announced that Chef Showdown will be held from 6-9PM on Thurs., April 17, at the Linnea Eleanor Rutkowski Food Distribution Hub, 580 Exchange Court, Aurora.
The popular event returns to raise funds for essential services for struggling families in DuPage, Kane, Kendall, and Will counties.
This year’s competition will showcase executive chefs from local restaurants Entourage and Meson Sabika. These talented chefs will compete to create unique dishes in a professional stadium kitchen assembled for the competition.
“We are excited to host Chef Showdown and incredibly grateful to our partners, sponsors, and guests for their support,” said Mike Havala, President & CEO of Loaves & Fishes. “With these talented chefs bringing their creativity and passion to the kitchen, this will be a fun and impactful event that will make a meaningful difference for the families we serve.”
The competing chefs will be assisted by celebrity sous chefs and Loaves & Fishes supporters, Adam Fuchs of Wintrust Commercial Banking, Kristen Refness of Endeavor Health, Karen Wells of Make-A-Wish Foundation, and Dustin Wilson of Duly Health and Care.
Dishes will be voted upon by a panel of judges, including “Chopped” celebrity, Chef Alonso Beckford from The Matrix Club, John Diederich from Rush Copley Medical Center, Dr. Susana Rivera-Mills from Aurora University, and Scott Wehrli, Mayor of the City of Naperville. The evening will be emceed by Nicki Anderson, Director of Strategic Partnerships at DuPage Foundation and Loaves & Fishes Board Member.
Throughout the evening, guests will enjoy delicious food provided by event partner My Chef Catering. There will be a moment to raise the paddle to support families in need in our community.
Tickets are $125, are on sale now, and can be purchased by visiting loaves-fishes.org. This event sells out quickly, so buying your tickets now is highly advisable.
Loaves & Fishes thanks their generous Executive Chef Sponsors including Energy Services, Meson Sabika, and Scooters Coffee.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, contact Tracy Katschke-Goss at tkgoss@loaves-fishes.org.
Loaves and Fishes Community Services
Loaves & Fishes Community Services is a registered 501(3) organization serving over 10,000 people a week by providing healthy food and impactful programs for self-sufficiency. It is the largest food pantry in the state of Illinois. Clients receive a healthy variety of food, including fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, and eggs.
The Loaves & Fishes CARES programs help clients become self-sufficient through opportunities such as emergency assistance for rent or utilities, assistance with public benefits, car donations, tax preparation, job readiness, budget, and credit classes, and Moving Up, a 16-session intensive to help clients overcome barriers preventing them from becoming self-sufficient.
Loaves & Fishes serves DuPage, Will, Kane, and Kendall counties. Loaves & Fishes Grocery Market and administrative offices are located in Naperville, and their Food Distribution Hub is located in Aurora.
For more information, visit loaves-fishes.org.
