Meet the Celebrity Chef Ball Co-Chairs!
Celebrity Chef Ball is right around the corner! We have a wonderful event volunteer committee that has been working for almost a year to create an amazing event for Meals on Wheels Chicago supporters. Learn a bit more about the committee leaders below!
Amy McCarty – Co-Chair
Amy McCarty has volunteered with Meals on Wheels Chicago since 2010, beginning as a committee member for Celebrity Chef Ball, and in that time has served as Chair of the Resource Development Committee and most recently as the Immediate Past-President of the Board of Directors. She has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars to support Chicago’s homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities. She has helped plan 11 Celebrity Chef Ball events and constantly brings fresh and new ideas to the table to make each year different and better than ever. Amy says “I cannot wait to be together in person, celebrating the mission of Meals on Wheels Chicago with some of its most valuable partners, the talented and generous chefs and their teams who make this very special event possible.” Her unwavering commitment to Meals on Wheels Chicago is greatly appreciated by staff, board members, and meal recipients.
Chef Cory Morris – Chef Lead
Chef Cory Morris discovered his passion for food at a young age and got his first break into the culinary world as a line cook at a popular ski resort, The Mariposa at Dear Valley in Salt Lake City. His successful career includes many accolades, and he is recognized both locally and nationally as a true culinary talent. Cory has appeared locally on Windy City Live, WGN, WCIU the U and Check, Please! as well as nationally on Food Network’s Chopped and Beat Bobby Flay. He has also been featured in publications such as Serious Eats, Sagat, The Chicago Tribune, Chicago Reader, and more. Cory joined Lettuce Entertain You in 2018 to help the kitchen at Nacional 27, and now is the Executive Chef at Beatrix Loop.
His passion, kindness, and hard work are evident in everything that he does. Cory has worked with Meals on Wheels Chicago for many years and has been instrumental in the annual Celebrity Chef Ball. Cory is “looking forward to seeing so many of the MOWC supporters under one roof raising critical funds for this amazing program. The celebrity chef ball is truly a one-of-a-kind experience that brings in chefs from all culinary backgrounds to create some seriously delicious tasting menus.” Cory joined the Meals on Wheels Chicago Board of Directors in 2021, further cementing his commitment to ending hunger in his community.
Heidi Clifton – Co-Chair and Chef Liaison
Heidi Clifton’s love for food and Meals on Wheels Chicago makes her the perfect addition to the Celebrity Chef Ball event committee! In her own words, Heidi shares that “I cannot wait to be in the same room with our incredibly talented chefs and guests who all share the same passion for helping others, as we all gather to celebrate the remarkable mission of Meals on Wheels Chicago.” Having worked with Meals on Wheels Chicago for over five years, Heidi is always willing to go the extra mile to support Chicago’s homebound seniors and individuals with disabilities. This includes donating a portion of the revenue from her company, Cecily George Photography, to Meals on Wheels Chicago – over $25,000 to date! We are incredibly grateful for her expertise and dedication as she spends countless hours recruiting the chefs and restaurants that will participate in the event.
