June 11, 2014

9th Annual Great Chefs Event Exceeds Fundraising Goal With Nearly $1 Million in Donations

On Tuesday, June 10, 2014, The Vetri Foundation for Children and Alex’s Lemonade Stand hosted the 9th annual Great Chefs Event in Philadelphia. The event welcomed more than 40 renowned chefs from across the country and Italy and more than 1,200 guests to the Urban Outfitters World Headquarters on Philadelphia’s waterfront Navy Yard. Guest were dressed to impress and the Chefs came prepared to make this event a once in a lifetime culinary experience.

The chefs , handpicked by Marc Vetri himself donated, their time, talent, and food and created delicious samplings for guests in the walk-around tasting gala of the year. In addition to the fine food, representatives from the best distilleries, wineries, craft breweries, were also present. Hosted by 6ABC’s Alicia Vitarelli & Food Network’s Marc Summers the live auction alone raised 80,000 with added excitement from auctioneer Billy Harris and exciting dueling bids for top-tier auction items, such as a Night Market with Big Gay Ice Cream. The owners of Big Gay Ice Cream had more goods news as they announced the opening of their newest store – the first in Philadelphia – at South and Broad Street in Center City.

The School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. William R. Hite Jr. spoke about the charitable work of the Vetri Foundation, followed by Liz and Jay Scott, Co-Executive Directors of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation who talked about their daughter Alex’s legacy of hope for kids with cancer. The night ended with an exclusive VIP party for chefs, volunteers, sponsors and VIP ticketholders at Alla Spina featuring Philadelphia’s own Questlove as official DJ. With the fundraising goal met the Vetri Foundation and Alex’s Lemonade Stand are looking forward to 2015 to make the 10th Annual Great Chefs Event the best yet. We can’t wait!