Pediatric Cancer Patients and Chefs "Bring the Heat" in Live Cooking Competition; Raise $70,000 for Patient Programs

More than 300 guests came together to raise awareness for childhood cancers and serious blood disorders and vote for the “Ultimate Chef” at the 5th Annual Cooking for Kids Competition. The competition paired local Long Beach “celebrity teams:” Kevin Daley and Ben Cary; Suzie Price and Jonathan Schnack; Ron and Nancy Piazza; Elizabeth Borsting and Terri Henry; Charles and Terese Parkin; Charlie Beirne and Veronica Quintero, Long Beach Police Department Commanders Paul LeBaron and Richard Rocchi; and Alex and Nancy Cherin with pediatric cancer patients for a live cooking competition to raise funds for the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center (JJCCC) at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach.

This year, $70,000 was raised for JJCCC patient and family support groups through a combination of online fundraising efforts, community sponsors and donations at the event. Support groups and activities exclusively dedicated to supporting kids and young adults diagnosed with cancer and blood disorders will receive the funds to help expand resources and continue to provide this benefit to patients. Suzie Price and Jonathan Schnack with Team “Magic Carpet to a Cure” cooked in honor of Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center patient, Luke, raised more than $11,000, secured more than 30,000 online votes and presented their signature Chicken Tawook dish which won the coveted title of 2014 “Ultimate Chef.”

“The Annual Cooking for Kids Competition is a major fundraising boost to help support crucial patient and family support programs we offer for kids and young adults at the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center,” says Amanda Termuhlen, M.D., medical director, Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center, Miller Children’s. “Donations from the Cooking for Kids Competition support crucial support services that provide kids and young adults the opportunity to discuss anxieties and concerns with others who share the same experiences.”

Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center provides comprehensive, family centered care to children with cancer and serious blood disorders. The Center is known for its comprehensive psychosocial programs and multi-disciplinary approach to patient and family centered care. Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center improves outcomes, prevents complications and enhances the quality of life for children with cancer, and serious blood disorders, by integrating new clinical research efforts into treatment plans.