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 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
About Hunger Busters
Founded in 2012, Hunger Busters is a non-profit organization committed to providing third meals to food insecure students within Dallas I.S.D. Through its signature Food Rescue program, representatives visit restaurants throughout Dallas/Fort Worth to pick up food that was not sold that day. Then, with the help of an army of volunteers, meals are prepared at the Hunger Busters facility before being delivered to afterschool programs. Each day, volunteers make and deliver meals to11 Dallas ISD schools and six afterschool programs. Additionally, the Hunger Busters’ flagship program, “Feed the Need,” aims to bridge the gap in food access by delivering nutritious food to food deserts. To learn more, please visit www.hungerbusters.com.
