Giada De Laurentiis Hosts Celebrity Chef’s Challenge for Mount Sinai Charity Fundraiser

As a  Toronto contact centre that specializes in fundraising services, we like to keep abreast of local nonprofit events like the upcoming 4th annual Celebrity Chef’s Challenge® , a highly successful culinary charity fundraiser hosted by the popular Food Network star Giada De Laurentiis. The inaugural event in 2010 was hosted by Hell’s Kitchen star chef Gordon Ramsay and it raised $1.1 million dollars. The 2011 event was hosted by Food Network mega-chef Bobby Flay and it raised $1.3 million. The 2012 Chef’s Challenge® was hosted by Food Network star Guy Fieri and it raised $775,000 bringing the three year total to an incredible $3,045,000. This year’s The Ultimate Battle for a Cure will take place on February 8th, 2014 and the success is expected to continue.

The Chef’s Challenge® is in support of Mount Sinai Hospital and all the funds raised will benefit lifesaving research and care for women in their daily battle against breast and ovarian cancer. About the event De Laurentiis says, “Food brings people together, and when it brings people together for a good cause it is even more special.” That is at the root of this event bringing people together over a shared passion – food – and a shared cause, women’s cancer.

Giada De Laurentiis became a household name with her Food Network series “Everyday Italian,” and then later she hosted shows and specials including: “Giada’s Weekend Getaways,” “Giada in Paradise: Capri and Santorini” and most recently “Giada at Home.” She is also one of the judges/mentors on the very popular “Next Food Network Star” which launched Guy Fieri’s Food Network career upon winning the second season. Giada is also a recurring guest on NBC’s “Today Show” and even has a line of products at Target.

Though De Laurentiis is hosting the evening, Food Network star and host of “You Gotta Eat Here” John Catucci will be the Emcee. The celebrity chefs participating in the event include Bal Arneson, Derek Dammann, Mark McEwan, David Rocco and Vikram Vig. On the celebrity judging panel will be HGTV personality Scott McGillivray, Judge of “Recipe to Riches” Maggie McKeown, and Toronto chef and owner of Bar Isabel Grant van Gameren

The Chef’s Challenge® is a one of a kind event but to be able to attend and participate, supporters must earn their admittance by registering on the Celebrity Chef’s Challenge website and fundraising for the cause. There are various levels of commitment fundraisers can choose from which range from $1,000- 25,000.

Those who commit to raise $1,000 will receive:

• A copy of Giada’s Feel Good Food cookbook
• An exclusive Chef’s Challenge® apron
• One ticket to attend an exclusive meet and greet event with Giada De Laurentiis on Saturday, February 8th, 2014 at 11 a.m.

Those who commit to raising 25,000 will receive:

• Two tickets to attend the Chef’s Challenge® main event as a guest should you not be eligible to cook on stage. Should you be cooking on stage, you will be entitled to bring two guests to the main event.
• A treasure chest with multiple secret ingredients and tools to help your team win the challenge!
• A Chefs jacket
• A copy of Giada’s Feel Good Food cookbook
• A gift bag filled with incredible culinary treats
• A VIP ticket to the exclusive after party with all celebrity chef team leaders from 11pm to 1am

A live auction also takes place on the Celebrity Chef’s Challenge website where biding will open in the coming weeks on 12 packages like trips to New York City, Miami, Montréal and Quebec City, $10,000 worth of Sub-Zero and Wolf products, Dinner for 25 at Cirillo’s plus two tickets to the finale Recipe to Riches, the ultimate food package: Invite 7 friends with you to experience the ultimate foodie package. The winning bidder of this package will receive dinner for eight (8) at Lynn Crawford’s Restaurant Ruby Watch Co., dinner for eight (8) at Mark McEwan’s restaurant ONE and dinner for eight (8) in your home with David Rocco and Chuck Hughes and other prizes.

Toronto Foodies who want to participate in the 4th annual Celebrity Chef’s Challenge® in support of a very worthy cause, should sign up soon, as the competition is fierce both in and out of the kitchen. Follow the latest event news on the Chef’s Challenge Facebook page and on Twitter @ChefsChallenge.

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Miratel Solutions is a Toronto call centre, eBusiness, and letter shop mail house specializing in professional fundraising services including telephone fundraising, online fundraising, lottery services, donation caging, donation processing and other donor management services. We are committed to our CSR business values in all contact centre services and mail house operations and advancing the missions of the nonprofits we proudly serve.