Celebrity Chef Ball Delivers 135,000 Meals for Seniors
Over 50 top Chicago chefs, including many Michelin, James Beard, and Bib Gourmand awardees, worked together to create a truly unique experience for supporters of Meals on Wheels Chicago. Thanks to their hard work and the unprecedented generosity of 400 guests in attendance at The Geraghty on October 14, 2022, Celebrity Chef Ball raised enough to provide 135,000 meals to food-insecure seniors and individuals with disabilities this holiday season.
Meals on Wheels Chicago (MoWC) provides nutrition, independence, and dignity to low-income seniors and individuals with disabilities living in every neighborhood of the city, many of whom live on incomes below the poverty level. The program began in 1987 delivering 1,218 meals and now, in their 35th anniversary year, serves over 4.7 million meals a year.
Today 1 in 6 seniors suffers from food insecurity. With the cost of food continuing to rise, many seniors are forced to sacrifice other basic needs like medicine to afford food. In response, Meals on Wheels Chicago has expanded its reach by launching a food pantry called Nourish Chicago Pantry that provides fresh produce, proteins, and other grocery items. Proceeds from Celebrity Chef Ball are used to provide meals and food for the home-delivered meals program and Nourish Chicago Pantry.
Celebrity Chef Ball drew some of Chicago’s top culinary talent, with the final list of participating chefs and mixologists hailing from dozens of acclaimed Chicago area restaurants, including:
Brian Jupiter, Frontier / Ina Mae Tavern
Federico Comacchio, Gioia Ristorante
Jared Wentworth, Moody Tongue
Andrew Zimmerman, Sepia / Proxi
Fabio Viviani, Siena Tavern / Bar Siena
Chris Pandel, Swift & Sons
[see full list of chefs and mixologists]
“We at Meals on Wheels Chicago are humbled and grateful for the restaurant industry’s continued support of our program,” says Elise Geiger, Executive Director. “For over three decades, Celebrity Chef Ball has raised millions of dollars for our organization. Chefs giving back to their community and inspiring others to do the same is what is truly special about this event, and we can’t wait for next year!” Next year’s Celebrity Chef Ball will be held on Friday, October 20, 2023 at The Geraghty (2520 S Hoyne Ave).
Sponsors for the 2022 event included: Breakthru Beverage Illinois, Samantha Crafton PR, ComEd, Deloitte, Monahan Law Group LLC, Open Kitchens, University Retina, Cecily George Photography, Paramount Events, Goose Island, Kehoe Designs, The Geraghty, Black Oak Technical Productions, Loquacious Culinary Events, Chicago Magazine, Time Out, WBEZ Chicago, VIP Valet, Uncommon Threads, and Midwest Care Management Services.
2022 Event Highlights
About Meals on Wheels Chicago: Meals on Wheels Chicago envisions a community in which all basic needs are met and barriers to achieving independence are eliminated. Our goal is to support programs that offer individuals a choice in their care and living arrangement, despite age, income, or ability level. We aim to relieve some of the financial hardship caused by social and economic injustices that exist in our society. Meals on Wheels Chicago has raised both private funds and awareness to accomplish our mission to ensure that both homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities benefit from programs that improve quality of life and maximize independence. Each year the home meal delivery program serves over 4.7 million meals to seniors living in Chicago, and in 2022 Meals on Wheels Chicago is celebrating 35 years of serving our community.
Facebook & Instagram: @mealsonwheelschicago
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High resolution images are available here. Photo credit: Abel Arciniega :: Tequila Creative Studio
Full list of participants is available here.
For more information, please contact Ellen Bouleanu at ebouleanu@mealsonwheelschicago.org or 847.293.5706.