As much of the country begins its bushfire recovery, Australians have once again shown how mateship and community can unite a nation for a common cause.
It’s this spirit that food rescue organisation OzHarvest hopes to tap into in the lead up to its biggest fundraising event of the year, the 9th annual CEO CookOff.
In a time of increasing social disparity, Australia’s business leaders and top chefs will rally together on 30 March at Sydney’s Carriageworks to serve people who face food insecurity.
Last year’s event helped raise A$2.6 million and OzHarvest Founder and CEO Ronni Kahn has again set the fundraising bar high.
“I’d always rather set a big goal and underachieve than set a goal that’s not ambitious enough. This year, we’re aiming to hit A$3 million and I believe that when people unite to put their hearts and their wallets together, extraordinary things can happen,” she says.
This A$3 million will provide a whopping six million meals to vulnerable people across the country. Among the 40 renowned chefs set to participate this year are Quay’s Peter Gilmore, ARIA’s Matt Moran, Rockpool’s Neil Perry, and My Kitchen Rules judge and 4Fourteen chef Colin Fassnidge.
“We’ve dedicated the 2020 CEO CookOff to food crisis relief, and we’ve amplified all of our efforts to help provide beautiful meals to those living in bushfire-affected areas.
“The event is not only an opportunity to raise money for an important cause, it’s also an opportunity to come together and break bread with more than 1,000 vulnerable people – including those who have been impacted by recent fires, drought and flooding.”
For Ronni and her OzHarvest team, the bushfire disaster has highlighted how important it is to be community-minded.
“That’s exactly what the CEO CookOff is – a night of community.
“It’s a real and concrete way for businesses of all sizes to get a team together, roll up their sleeves, be a role model for others in their community and help us achieve our goal of nourishing Australia,” Ronni explains.
“This event is so much more than just a charity fundraiser; seeing so many smiles on the faces of people who often go unnoticed in everyday society is a highlight for me.”
This year, OzHarvest will be partnering with internationally acclaimed chef Massimo Bottura to bring his refettorio project to Sydney.
With a passion and determination to fight food waste, Bottura founded not-for-profit Food For Soul to develop unique, charity soup kitchens, or refettorios, in Milan and Rio.
“We are very excited to be part of bringing this incredible project to Australia,” says Ronni.
Don’t miss out on your chance to be part of OzHarvest’s CEO CookOff, taking place on 30 March 2020 at Carriageworks, Sydney. Register here.
