Tony Mantuano, James Beard Chefs to Create Dinner, Culinary Tastings
The Housewares Charity Foundation has announced its third honoree for 2014. David Ortiz, vice president/divisional merchandise manager for cooking/dining at Walmart U.S., will receive the Lifetime Humanitarian Award during the 17th Annual Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) Gala on Monday evening, March 17, during the 2014 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago.
Ortiz joins previously announced honorees Janis Johnson, president and founder, Gourmet Catalog & Buying Group, as Specialty Retailer Humanitarian and Wolfgang Wüsthof, senior partner, WÜSTHOF, as Humanitarian of the Year.
The Gala will be held at the event’s new venue, Navy Pier, beginning with a reception at 6 p.m. Along with dinner and honoree tributes, the evening includes auctions and entertainment. The cocktail reception, sponsored by CHOOSE CHICAGO, will feature nine tasting stations hosted by Chicago-based James Beard Foundation chefs: Jimmy Bannos, Jr. of The Purple Pig; Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill; Rohini Dey of Vermilion; Gale Gand of SpritzBurger; Stephanie Izard of Girl & The Goat; Paul Kahan of Blackbird; Michael Kornick of mk The Restaurant; Carrie Nahabedian of NAHA; and Art Smith of Table fifty-two.
Dinner will feature three courses designed by Tony Mantuano, chef/partner of Spiaggia.
Proceeds will benefit The Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the HCF’s legacy charity. A portion of this year’s proceeds will also benefit The Chicago Initiative on Pancreatic Cancer at the University of Chicago, Medicine & Biological Sciences. Since the first gala in 1998, HCF has raised $26 million and has contributed $20 million to BCRF. For the last five years, amidst the most challenging of economic times, the HCF has raised record amounts of more than $2 million each year.
Co-chairs for the 2014 event are Phil Brandl, president and CEO of the International Housewares Association (IHA), and Herb Landsman, executive vice president, merchandising, of Home Goods at TJX Companies. In a collaborative effort among industry manufacturers, retailers and allied industry partners, the non-profit HCF hosts this annual event to raise funds for critical causes, unite the housewares industry and honor its leaders. Honorees are selected for their humanitarian efforts and exceptional leadership.
BCRF was founded by Evelyn H. Lauder in 1993. Ms. Lauder, a champion for finding a cure and prevention for breast cancer in our lifetime, passed away in November 2012 in New York City.
For more information about the HCF, its honorees and its charities, please click here or contact Paul Murphy at 508.272.0717 or pimurphy11@gmail.com.
