One hundred and thirty-four local community and school leaders helped the College Station ISD Education Foundation raise over $225,000 at its 11th Annual 50 Men Who Can Cook on February 2.
One hundred and thirty-four local community and school leaders helped the College Station ISD Education Foundation raise over $225,000 at its 11th Annual 50 Men Who Can Cook on February 2. Proceeds from sponsorships along with the sale of tickets, silent auction items, mystery grab bags and raffle tickets will fund innovative teaching grants, student scholarships, book vouchers for Pre-K/Head Start students, CSISD Senior Hall of Fame, Chrissy’s Closet and the district’s learning website Success 24/7.
The Celebrity Chefs, who comprise 65 cooking booths, will be showcasing their culinary skills and include College Station Police Chief Scott McCollum; Former Aggie Football Players Ty Warren, Ryan Swope and Seth McKinney; CSISD Superintendent Dr. Clark Ealy, City of College Station Mayor Karl Mooney; and State Representative Kyle Kacal.
This is CHI St. Joseph Health’s first year to serve as the Top Chef Sponsor. “We believe that investing in our local schools is the most valuable investment we can make in our community,” said CHI St. Joseph Health Interim CEO Kia Parsi who is also a CSISD Education Foundation Board Member. “Making sure that our teachers, students and staff have all the resources they need to make our schools excellent is a top priority for us.”
“I’m told by so many that this is their favorite community event,” said CSISD Education Foundation Executive Director Teresa Benden. “We are so thankful for our Celebrity Chefs who cook the food, sponsors who fund the event and volunteers who help it run smoothly. It is certainly a group effort and we are so grateful for our community’s support of our local public schools.”
This year’s 50 Men Who Can Cook Co-Chairs are CSISD Education Foundation Board Members Heather Simmen and Jody Ford. “I am thrilled to be a part of 50 Men Who Can Cook again this year,” said Simmen. “Every year our event surpasses our expectations and helps us generate funds for all the programs the Education Foundation supports. What excites me the most is that it is the students and teachers who really benefit from our efforts. We could not do these things without the support our community gives us.”
Established in 1999, the College Station ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit, tax-exempt 501 (c) (3) public corporation. Tax-deductible gifts made to the foundation provide funds for opportunities above and beyond the normal operating budget of the school district which are not available through tax revenues. Its mission is to seek funds and award those funds to students and teachers to bring innovation and excellence to the classroom and to provide opportunities not available through general funding.
For more information about the event or the CSISD Education Foundation, please visit our website at givetokids.csisd.org, check us out on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/CSISDEF, or contact Teresa Benden, CSISD EF Executive Director, at 979-694-5615 or givetokids@csisd.org.
