Celebrities Pitch In for Hunger-Fighting Event

Chappaqua Cares will hold Empty Bowls Westchester Nov. 15, a gala fundraising event to help raise money and awareness in the fight against hunger.

Michael Psilakis, Chef/Owner of MP Taverna and Food Network personality, will serve as “Soup Chef” at the fundraiser on Sunday. Celebrity bowls will be auctioned off, including bowls signed by Billy Joel, Christie Brinkley, Phil Simms, Bryant Gumbel and Guy Fierri.

This is part of the Empty Bowls project, an international grassroots effort against hunger. Empty Bowls communities work together to= create handcrafted bowls for guests to enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread in these bowls. Guests are invited to take their bowls home to serve as a reminder of all of the people in the world whose bowls are empty on a daily basis.

Approximately 200,000 — or one in five — residents in Westchester County are hungry or at risk of hunger. More than half are seniors and one-third are children under the age of 18. There are more than 200 hunger relief programs in Westchester County that serve almost 15,000 residents with emergency food assistance during any given week. All proceeds from Empty Bowls Westchester will benefit The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry, The Community Center of Northern Westchester and other local food pantries.

“We’re thrilled to receive such generous support from Empty Bowls Westchester,” said Robert Cummings, Board President of The Mount Kisco Interfaith Food Pantry. “Our Pantry, now in its 25th year, served more than 31,000 people last year and distributed $470,000 worth of food. Proceeds from Empty Bowls Westchester will help us continue to offer our neighbors enough healthy food for more than four days of complete meals each week.”

“The image of an empty bowl perfectly describes the dilemma faced by many of our neighbors who are unemployed, underemployed, ill or aged,” says Sherry Wolf, Executive Director, Community Center of Northern Westchester, which served 8,500 people in its Food Pantry in 2014. “The Empty Bowls event is a terrific way to engage the community while raising funds to lessen hunger in our midst.”

Empty Bowls Westchester Soup Chef, Michael Psilakis, has acquired many of the food world’s highest honors throughout his culinary career. In 2008 alone, Psilakis was awarded Food & Wine’s Best New Chef and Bon Appetit’s Chef of the Year distinctions; nominated for A-List Chef by Bravo TV; and had his upscale Greek restaurant Anthos, nominated for a James Beard Award in the category of Best New Restaurant. He was also named “Chef of the Year” by Esquire Magazine and his restaurant Anthos was awarded a Michelin star and named the third of ten best new restaurants by The New York Times restaurant reviewer, Frank Bruni.

“When I heard about Empty Bowls Westchester, I knew I had to get involved,” said Psilakis. “As a restauranteur in Westchester County, it is very meaningful to be able to give back to those in need right here in our local community.”

Empty Bowls Westchester, presented by Chappaqua Cares, an organization dedicated to connecting local residents with philanthropic opportunities for volunteering, fundraising and donating, will take place from 5-8 pm at the Whippoorwill Club at 150 Whippoorwill Road in Armonk, NY. Event tickets are $125 and can be purchased online at www.chappaquacares.org. For more information about sponsorship opportunities and donations, contact Empty Bowls Westchester at chappaquacares@gmail.com or find them on Facebook at EmptyBowlsWestchester.