ChefsGiving Week & Gala raised a projected $750,000 and counting for Northern California Fire Relief
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November 21, 2017 Emily Rudisill: emily@magnumpr.com
ChefsGiving Week & Gala raised a projected $750,000 and counting for Northern California Fire Relief
Restaurants from around the Bay Area participated in ChefsGiving Week, which culminated in a gala on November 19
San Francisco, CA — On Sunday, November 19, the ChefsGiving Gala brought a full week of giving to a ceremonial
close. Co-hosted by ChefsGiving founder Liam Mayclem and Leslie Sbrocco of KQED, the gala attracted a capacity
crowd of 1,050 guests from across the Bay Area who came to drink, eat, and give in the Grand Hall at San
Francisco’s iconic Ferry Building. Profits from ticket and wine sales, as well as a live and silent auction, will be
donated to two charity partners in an effort to help those devastated by the Northern California fires: Tipping Point
Emergency Relief Fund and Restaurants Care .
Williams Sonoma presented the inaugural ChefsGiving Humanitarian Award to SF FIGHTS FIRE , San Francisco’s
restaurants and food purveyors committed to helping those affected by the wildfires. This group of big-hearted chefs
mobilized quickly and efficiently and took food to those who needed it most, first responders, and those displaced in
shelters. Chefs Ravi Kapr (Liholiho Yacht Club), Sam Mogamman (Bi-Rite,) and Stuart Brioza (State Bird
Provisions and The Progress) were on-hand to receive the award.
Live and silent auctions raised more than $100,000 with lots including dinners at Chef Dominique Crenn’s farm that
brought in $30,000, and a two-night trip for four to Las Vegas with Chef Hubert Keller, which sold for $10,000.
“I could not be more proud of our amazing team of volunteers who made the impossible, possible, and pulled off
an exceptional gala and a restaurant week in just five weeks. Here’s to our next Gala in 2018,” said ChefsGiving
founder Liam Mayclem.
Eleven of San Francisco’s top bars, including Bourbon & Branch, Elixir, and Smuggler’s Cove mixed cocktails for
guests, and fifty wine tables representing more than 200 brands from around the country and world poured their
selections. The impressive list included:
● Dom Perignon
● Freeman Vineyards, Sonoma
● AldenAlli by Dan Kosta
● Peay Vineyards
● Unti Vineyards
● Shafer Vineyards, Napa
More than 30 diverse food vendors including Dandelion Chocolate, Slanted Door , and Mijita Cocina Mexicana
kept guests full for the four-hour extravaganza. At the sold-out, 200-person VIP hour, caviar was served by The
Caviar Company and wine was poured by Opus One .
“In all my years of producing or chairing galas, the community spirit and the positive energy was felt by all
in ways that I have never seen at a fundraiser before. The good energy in the room exceeded all expectations,” said
Gala Chair Debbie Zachareas.
Emotional points throughout the evening brought the community together. Winemaker Dan Kosta, who lost his
Sonoma home in the recent fires, spoke of his loss and of the gratitude for having his family safe. “We were lucky.
We escaped alive but many people did not. Our hearts are with them,” said Kosta.
The amount of money raised is still an estimate, as donations from restaurants that participated in ChefsGiving Week
are still coming in. FundCru , a new blockchain-powered fundraising platform that funds causes through e-commerce
transactions and direct donations launched ahead of schedule to help fundraise for ChefsGiving . Donations are still
being accepted at https://go.fundcru.com/raise/chefsgiving.
Additional monetary contributions to ChefsGiving were given by:
● Andrew Miller Foundation
● Bay Club
● Sun Basket
● UberEATS
● Williams Sonoma
Photos of the gala are available via the links below:
● Drew Altizer’s photos are available here: http://bit.ly/2mQjyvl
● Lisa Vortman’s gala photos are available here: http://bit.ly/2AkAyQC
As part of ChefsGiving Week, restaurants around the Bay Area including Rich Table, Slanted Door, State Bird
Provisions, Outerlands, Robin, August (1) Five, Tosca, ‘aina, Foreign Cinema, The Riddler , and many more
raised money for Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund and Restaurants Care through special ChefsGiving
menus, dedicated menu items, or fundraising events the week of November 13-19. On the national front, Chef José
Andrés donated proceeds from a week of dinners from Bazaar Meat in Las Vegas and Chef Russell Jackson of
Subculture Dining in New York donated a dinner for two at his upcoming pop-up.
“We are thrilled at the Gala turn out and the enormous giving spirit shown by our community. The restaurant
participation was beyond our hopes and dreams with more than 127 restaurants signed up,” said Chef Chair
Dominique Crenn, who raised $16,000 from two nights of special menus at Atelier Crenn and Petit Crenn.
ChefsGiving menus and dishes from restaurants like 4505 Burgers & BBQ and Craftsman & Wolves The Den were
featured on the UberEATS app, and Uber has pledged to contribute up to $50,000 to the participating charities in
support of the initiative.
About ChefsGiving Week
ChefsGiving Week (November 13-19) is a fundraising effort to support those devastated by wildfires in Northern
California. During the week, restaurants of all price points held a variety of events to support Tipping Point
Emergency Relief Fund and Restaurants Care. The Bay Area’s most recognized chefs and restaurants joined,
including Atelier Crenn, Slanted Door, Robin, Outerlands, The Riddler, La Folie, Foreign Cinema, Donato Enoteca,
The Restaurant at CIA Copia, La Costanera, Shakewell, La Marcha, Dumpling Time, Navio at The Ritz-Carlton, Half
Moon Bay, and fast-casual spots like 4505 Burgers & BBQ, Souvla, and Media Noche.
The Tipping Point Emergency Relief Fund directly supports low-income communities affected by the devastating
fires in the North Bay. Restaurants Care , an emergency assistance fund for restaurant workers formed by the
California Restaurant Association Foundation , has dedicated specific funds to support restaurant workers who
are affected by the fires.
For more information about this year’s ChefsGiving Week and Gala, visit chefsgiving.org , and follow along
on social media for the latest news: @ChefsGiving on Instagram , Twitter , and Facebook .
ChefsGiving marketing partners include the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, San Francisco Hotel Council, San
Francisco Travel, KPIX-TV/CBS Radio, restaurant and hospitality public relations and marketing professionals
throughout the Bay Area, and many more.
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ChefsGiving Executive Committee
Liam Mayclem, CBS (Founder and Executive Producer)
Diana Haven, Ellipses PR (Producer)
Gwyneth Borden, Golden Gate Restaurant Association (Producer)
Jen Pelka, Magnum PR (Chef Committee)
Emily Rudisill, Magnum PR (Publicity)
Maddie Emodi, Magnum PR (Chef Relations)
Yuliya Patsay, Golden Gate Restaurant Association (Digital Marketing/Website)
Chhavi Sahni, Golden Gate Restaurant Association (Restaurant & Donation Coordination)
Amanda Shepherd, Ellipses PR (Social Media)
ChefsGiving Wine and Gala Committee
Debbie Zachareas, Ferry Plaza Wine Merchant, Oxbow Cheese and Wine Merchant (Chair)
Kristen Green, Kristen Green PR
Shelley Lindgren, A16 and SPQR
Leslie Sbrocco, KQED’s “Check, Please! Bay Area”
Natasha Merritt, Paula LeDuc Fine Catering
Patricia Wilson (Partnerships)
Colleen Buckley-Reynolds, Reynolds & Buckley, LLC Fundraising Auctions (Auction)
ChefsGiving Chef & Restaurant Committee
Dominique Crenn, Atelier Crenn (Chair)
Traci Des Jardins, Jardinière
Ranjan Dey, New Delhi Restaurant
Sara Deseran & Joe Hargrave, Tacolicious
Mark Dommen, One Market
Gerald Hirigoyen, Piperade
Hubert Keller, Fleur and Burger Bar
David Lawrence, Black Bark BBQ
Laurent Manrique, Café de la Presse and Aquitaine
Roland Passot, La Folie
Charles Phan, Slanted Door
Anna Weinberg, Park Tavern and Marlowe
William Werner, Craftsman & Wolves
Xavier Salomon, The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay
ChefsGiving Advisors
H. Joseph Ehrmann, Elixir
Christine Farren, CUESA
Andrew Freeman, af&co.
Mary Risley, Food Runners
Kevin Carrol, Hotel Council of San Francisco
Rick Camargo, Camargo Photo
Corporate and Media Supporters
CBS Radio (KCBS, Alice, Live105, 99.7Now)
Chen Design Associates
Eventbrite
Myxr
OpenTable
Williams Sonoma
Yelp!
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