Five Non-Profits Share in $50,000 from Chicago Chefs Cook Fundraiser

March Tasting Event with Top Chefs Drew Huge Attendance

Photo by Bob Benenson

Chicago Chefs Cook's latest culinary fundraiser was a tasting event — held at Chicago's Four Seasons Hotel on March 26 — that presented an all-star lineup of leading chefs. It was easy just viewing the throng of more than 300 food lovers in attendance for the "I Cook For" benefit that the event was a grand slam.

Now we know, with real numbers, just how successful the event was. Chicago Chefs Cook announced yesterday that the five mission-driven non-profits designated as the evening's recipients will each get a check for $10,000 in proceeds. They are:

Immigration: Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights

Children Battling Cancer: Camp Kids are Kids Chicago

The Unhoused and Food-Insecure: Soul & Smoke Foundation

Women's Culinary Leadership:Women's Chef Exchange

Sustainability and Regenerative Agriculture: Frontera Farmer Foundation

The following is the email message the organization shared with media partners on Monday (April 27).

There are no words that can fully express how grateful we are — but we’ll try.

On March 26, Chicago’s culinary community came together at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago to create something truly special: an evening dedicated to humanitarian causes that matter deeply to this city. Through your coverage, storytelling, and support, you helped bring that impact to life and extend it far beyond the room.

We are thrilled to announce that for every cause championed at this year’s “I Cook For” event, Chicago Chefs Cook will be writing a $10,000 check directly to each charity. These efforts spanned causes from immigration rights and women’s leadership in the culinary industry to regenerative agriculture, food insecurity, support for children living with cancer, and chef civic leadership. That impact would not have been possible without the visibility and amplification you provided.

Thank you for your partnership and your support. We are also deeply grateful to the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and Adorn Restaurant, LRG Marketing, Kinship PR, Terms of Service podcast, 77 Flavors, The Babysitting Company, All in Good Taste podcast, our volunteers, planning team, sponsors, and the incredible chef and service teams whose dedication and generosity made the evening possible.

The second annual Chicago Chefs Cook “I Cook For” event was memorable, uplifting, and a true reflection of the central role that storytelling and community play in the life of this city. We are already looking forward to what we build together next.

With deep gratitude, Chicago Chefs Cook

Chef Sarah Stegner, Eda Davidman, Melissa Clark, Darren Gest + the CCC Advisory Board

Local Food Forum is proud of its association with Chicago Chefs Cook since its founding event in 2022, and we salute the organization for being a shining example of the Chicago region's extraordinary philanthropic culinary community.

READ OUR RECAP OF THE MARCH 26 EVENT

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHICAGO CHEFS COOK

---

SUBSCRIBE TO LOCAL FOOD FORUM