Celebrity Chef Ball raise funds for Meals on Wheels

Meals on Wheels hosts their upcoming Celebrity Chef Ball on Friday, October 20, 2023, at The Geraghty (2520 S. Hoyne Avenue) in Chicago. This charity event will feature over 50 local chefs and mixologists, including many Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand award winners. Funds from this event will support homebound seniors currently struggling with food insecurity.

Meals on Wheels Chicago began in 1987, delivering 1,218 meals and now serves over 4.7 million meals a year. Their mission is to end hunger and isolation for seniors and people with disabilities. Through their programs, they bring dignity, nutrition, and independence to those living below the poverty line. "We easily forget that cooking a nutritious meal is not as easy for our homebound seniors and those with disabilities. Donations go to work tomorrow and you can feed a senior the next day, which makes this such a worthy cause.", says Heidi Clifton, Celebrity Chef Ball co-chair, according to a press release from Meals on Wheels.

The Celebrity Chef Ball is truly a unique moment for attendees. An exclusive team of three chefs and a mixologist will create a fine dining experience for a group of guests sitting at three tables. Each pod of tables will watch as a six-course meal is prepared personally before their eyes. The long list of chefs is prestigious and includes Devon Quinn (Eden), Jeff Lutzow (Formento's), Brian Jupiter (Frontier/Ina Mae Tavern), Rob Levitt (Publican Quality Meats), Manish Mallick (ROOH Chicago/Bar Goa), Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia/Proxi), Fabio Viviani (Siena Tavern/Bar Siena), and Chris Pandel (Swift & Sons) to name a few.

Chef Paul Virant (Vie), who is a long-time supporter and participant in this year's event, shared this statement in a press release from Meals on Wheels, "For people who are homebound, having a nutritious meal delivered to you by a warm and friendly driver is the highlight of the day. We should never underestimate the healing power of presence. Presence at a spectacular event. Presence when you are working with people you truly like. And the small quiet moment of presence when you hand someone a meal and ask them how they are doing."

According to Meals on Wheels, one in six seniors suffers from food insecurity, and more than 40% regularly experience loneliness. The Celebrity Chef Ball raises the necessary funds to combat this horrible statistic. Meals on Wheels will use the money raised to deliver meals and/or stock pantries with essential items for those in need to thrive. 

Sponsors for the event include Breakthru Beverage, ComEd, Goose Island, Samantha Crafton Public Relations, LLC, Chicago Magazine, Cecily George Photography, and V.I.P. Valet. 

For more information about the Celebrity Chef Ball or to purchase tickets, please visit mealsonwheelschicago.org or call 773.661.4550.