More than 60 celebrity chefs are warming up their ovens and sharpening their knives for the second annual Cookin’ Men fundraiser. The evening will start at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 20 at the Lakeland Center.
The chefs, who are business and civic community leaders when not in the kitchen, will cook up an array of culinary treats, all to benefit the Lakeland Regional Medical Center Foundation’s Women in Philanthropy Giving Society.
“We are so excited to host our second annual Cookin’ Men event! The response last year was so incredible that we had to add even more chefs this year,” said Paula Higgins, manager of annual giving and special projects for the LRMC Foundation. “This should be another great event for our community and we are looking forward to seeing what our chefs cook up.”
The purpose of Women in Philanthropy is to inspire and empower women to fulfill their philanthropic potential by improving the quality of health care for women of all ages in the community. “Women in Philanthropy, now 150 members strong, gives women the opportunity to be involved and make a difference in our community,” Higgins said. “In just two years, WIP has granted $75,000 in funding to improve healthcare for women and children in Lakeland and Polk County.”
Admission to Cookin’ Men is $50 per person and includes food samples from each chef and two drink tickets. For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, visit www.cookinmen.org or call the Foundation office at 863-687-1296.
Joining us as chefs this year will be:
Matthew Cantrall
Greg Carter
Bill Castle
Rob Chase
Todd Christian
Ron Clark
Casey Compton
Matthew Cory, M.D.
Brad Crenshaw
Ed Crenshaw
Dillon Daniels
Dale Dreyer
Kurt Elmhorst
Jerome Ferson
Bob Fisher
Bo Fisher
Frank Foster
Art Fulmer, Jr.
Mike Furr
Ed Goodemote
Graham Greene, M.D.
Ron Henkelman
Kevin Hennessey
Rob Hennessey
Bret Hendricks, M.D.
Justin Hollis
Hollis Hooks
Paul Hughes
Bo Jacksin, DVM
Tim Jackson
Sheriff Grady Judd
Ken Keck
Chris Kelly
Jim Malless
Representative Seth McKeel
Zenapha “Z’ Milton
Steve Moore
Jay Mulaney, M.D.
San Nimah
Nis Nissen
Paul Noris
Eric J. olson
Jim O’Malley
Bill Parry
Ben Pou
Bill Pou, Jr.
Bob Puterbaugh
J. Scot Reed
Alan (Rico) Rich, M.D.
Trent Rowe
Anu Saxena
Brockman Self
Don Serot, M.D.
Sam Sheets
Weymon Snuggs
Olumide Sobowale, M.D.
Rob Springer
David Steele
Jack Stephens
Daniel E. Stetson
Bill Tinsley
Phillip Walker
J.J. Weeks
Howard Wiggs
Alan Woodard
Bobby Yates