Dallas Ranked #2 in the Nation for Child Hunger. Celebrity Chefs to Craft Delectable Dishes to Raise Funds and Awareness of Child Hunger.
Hunger Busters, a local nonprofit organization working to eradicate hunger for children throughout the Dallas area, will host the sixth annual “Meet the Chefs” event featuring cuisines crafted by notable chefs who have been featured on the Food Network and curate menus for well-known celebrities. This culinary event for a cause will take place at The Empire Room on Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. Erin Hunter, news journalist with WFAA, will serve as the emcee for the evening.
“It is a great honor to host our ‘Meet the Chefs’ event to help increase awareness of the hunger
and poverty issue that exists for children throughout Dallas,” said Dr. Latame Phillips, CEO of
Hunger Busters. “Throughout history, many major decisions have been made while ‘breaking
bread’ around the dinner table. This event provides a similar opportunity for the community to come together for a unique culinary experience that can serve as a catalyst for having important
conversations about ways to feed the needs of our children.”
“Meet the Chefs” is a signature fundraising event that will unite those committed to making a
difference for a great cause. Guests will be welcomed by a cocktail reception featuring local
mixologists before entering the main event highlighting live chef demonstrations. The celebrity
chefs will appear on stage to provide a colorful narration of each dish before the completed
entrée is plated and passed for tasting and enjoyment. A curated and customized culinary
experience, guests would have indulged in a multi-course dinner by the conclusion of the
evening.
The celebrity chefs featured at “Meet the Chefs” will include:
– Manwell “Hoppie” McLean – Food Network Chef and Personal Chef for Dallas
Cowboys players including Dak Prescott, CeeDee Lamb and Ezekiel Elliot.
– Nina Sagoo – Food Network Chef and Founder of Spiced Lavender Catering
– Derricka Clayton – Food Network Chef and founder of Chef Derricka Culinary
Concepts
– Jose Castillo – Food Network Chef and Chef for Dem Taco Boys
– Rassaun “RJ” Johnson – Celebrity Chef of Playmakers 88, a sports bar and restaurant
concept founded by Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer and three-time Super Bowl
Champion Michael Irvin
– Troi Hawkins – Celebrity steakhouse menu curator and daughter of retired Major League
Baseball player and Chef, LaTroy Hawkins
– Karren Whitley – Celebrity food artist and charcuterie board specialist.
An upscale and engaging atmosphere, the event will also feature live music, a silent auction and
exceptional networking opportunities with some of the city’s must influential community and
business leaders.
The “Meet the Chefs” event has been designed to support the programs and initiatives of Hunger
Busters. The organization delivers 3,500 meals a day to students and over 350,000 a year with
aspirations to deliver 14,500 meals daily. Each day, volunteers and representatives from the
organization visit local restaurants and grocery stores to gather excess food that is then prepared,
packaged and delivered to afterschool programs. A win-win situation, Hunger Busters help
reduce food waste while providing quality food to children in need of fresh and healthy meals.
“The access to nutritious food is a basic human right, yet many children face food insecurity,
especially in low-income communities,” said Dr. Phillips. “Society addresses food inequality and
promotes social equity by providing healthy dinners to elementary school children, regardless of
their socio-economic background. It ensures that all children have an equal opportunity to thrive
and succeed.”
According to Feeding America, one in five children in Texas is food insecure and nearly one in
four children in Dallas County is food insecure. Hunger Busters work consistently to address this
need by ensuring children receive essential nutrients for their growth and development. It has
been shown that a well-balanced meal can contribute to better physical health by reducing the
risk of obesity, malnutrition, and related health issues. Additionally, children who are well-fed
are more likely to concentrate better in class, participate actively in learning activities, and
achieve higher academic results. This can lead to improved attendance and performance in
school. The Hunger Busters program has proven to improve a young scholar’s attendance,
behavior issues and test scores in school.
The “Meet the Chefs” event is taking place at The Empire Room, 1225 North Riverfront Blvd,
Dallas, Texas 75207 from 6:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Tickets are $250 and are sponsorship
opportunities are available. Proceeds from the event will benefit Hunger Busters and its mission
to help eliminate food insecurity for local students. For more information, ticket information and
sponsorship opportunities, please visit www.hungerbusters.com/meetthechefs.