First-Ever Community FoodBank Chef Challenge To Fight Hunger

EGG HARBOR TWP., NJ – The Community FoodBank of New Jersey – Southern Branch invites food lovers and those passionate about fighting hunger to the first-ever Community FoodBank Chef Challenge on Thursday, April 20. The event will begin at 6 pm at the FoodBank’s Egg Harbor Township facility.

Two acclaimed chefs – Kevin Kelly of Steve & Cookie’s By The Bay and Stephan Johnson of Dock’s Oyster House – will compete to create a world-class meal using a mystery basket of FoodBank pantry ingredients. Pat Croce will emcee the event, and celebrity food judges include CEO of Alpha Funding Solutions Mark Callazzo, also of The Iron Room and The Atlantic City Bottle Company; Founder and President of Kismet Wines Mady Deininger; Food Network Star Finalist Nicole Gaffney; and Chopped Champion Nick Palamaro of Union Square Cafe. The event will feature live music, signature hors d’oeuvres, and wine and cocktails. Adding to the festivities will be a live auction of two one-of-a-kind items.

The intimate event is designed to give attendees the opportunity to support the FoodBank’s efforts to provide food, help and hope. “Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland counties have some of the highest rates of food insecurity in New Jersey, and we see the need every day,” said Richard Uniacke, Vice President of Southern Branch. “We’re excited to host our first-ever Chef Challenge at the FoodBank, which will give our attendees an inside look at our facility, including the FoodBank and onsite food pantry, and the work we do to end hunger – all possible thanks to support from our community.”

Uniacke added, “Due to the generous event sponsorship of Borgata Heart & Soul Foundation and support from many others, the FoodBank hopes to raise more than $20,000, enough funds to provide over 60,000 meals for food insecure families in our community.”

Tickets are $150 and are available at cfbnj.org/chefchallenge or by calling 609-798-4248. The FoodBank – Southern Branch is located at 6735 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township.

Media are welcome to attend to cover the event. Please contact Mary Faddoul, Communications Manager, at mfaddoul@cfbnj.org or 908-355-3663 ext. 282 prior to April 20.

ABOUT CFBNJ: The Community FoodBank of New Jersey(CFBNJ), a member of Feeding America®, provides people across the state with food, help and hope. The FoodBank distributed over 43 million pounds of food last year to its more than 1,000 community partners including pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters, mobile pantries, and child and senior feeding programs. More than 4.7 million times a year, someone in need is fed by the FoodBank’s network of partners. For our neighbors, especially families, and for the volunteers and donors who support them, the Community FoodBank of New Jersey is the powerful change agent that fills the emptiness caused by hunger with the basic human essentials that people need to survive.

CONTACT: Mary Faddoul, Communications Manager, mfaddoul@cfbnj.org / 908-355-3663 ext. 282