This Saturday, for the third straight year, Philly's Men Are Cookin' will be taking over both floors of the National Constitution Center. The need for such an expansive venue reflects the burgeoning popularity of the event. Philly's Men Are Cookin' overgrew the confines of the Curtis Center, where it had held forth for many years. Last year, the annual culinary soiree attracted over 1,000 attendees.
Now in its 17th edition, this adults only event will feature approximately 200 chefs, purveying their signature dishes. What makes this event unique is that the participating chefs represent an amalgam of professional caterers and amateur aspirants. This generates an interesting melange of polished presentations and delicious, home-style offerings.
The event has another salient distinction. Philadelphia holds many food-driven events that serve as fundraisers for a spate of worthy causes. Philly's Men Are Cookin' is the only local event of its kind that is overwhelmingly attended by an affluent and influential members of the African-American population.
The event is a production of the Ivy Legacy Foundation, the charitable arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Rho Theta Omega Chapter. All proceeds raised by this eleemosynary organization are earmarked for such worthy beneficiaries as scholarships for deserving students and various community entities. Over the years, The Ivy Legacy Foundation has raised and donated in excess of $200,000.
With Clay Armbrister, Charisse R. Lillie, and A. Michael Pratt, serving as Honorary Co-Chairperson, Philly's Men Are Cookin' has three prominent individuals filling the role. Mr. Armbrister is the Chief of Staff for Mayor Michael A. Nutter. In that capacity, he bears responsibility for the coordination of policy among the various cabinet officials of the government. Ms. Lillie is the Vice President of Community Investment and the Executive Vice President of the Comcast Foundation. Mr. Pratt is a partner in the Philadelphia office of Pepper Hamilton LLP. His purview of expertise is commercial, product liability and mass tort litigation.
Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper, a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia County, is the President of The Ivy Legacy Foundation. She observed, "In these challenging economic times, The Ivy Legacy Foundation is elated that so many people continue to support our efforts to raise money for scholarships for outstanding high school students and other organizations serving the needs of our community."
Philly's Men Are Cookin' will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 7:00 PM. It includes a VIP Reception prior to the event itself, the Main Event, a Silent Auction and a Post Event Social. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the following locations: Charlie Trendi Hair Salon (6218 Lebanon Ave - 215.921.2288); Glassman's Ticket Agency (231 S. 13th Street- 215.545.5400); and Omega Optical (2385 Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham Square Mall- 215.885.1200).
For additional information on the event, call the hotline at (215) 848-4735. For more information on the Ivy Legacy Foundation, visit www.ivylegacy.org. For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha, visit www.aka1908.com. The need for such an expansive venue reflects the burgeoning popularity of the event. Philly's Men Are Cookin' overgrew the confines of the Curtis Center, where it had held forth for many years. Last year, the annual culinary soiree attracted over 1,000 attendees.
Now in its 17th edition, this adults only event will feature approximately 200 chefs, purveying their signature dishes. What makes this event unique is that the participating chefs represent an amalgam of professional caterers and amateur aspirants. This generates an interesting melange of polished presentations and delicious, home-style offerings.
The event has another salient distinction. Philadelphia holds many food-driven events that serve as fundraisers for a spate of worthy causes. Philly's Men Are Cookin' is the only local event of its kind that is overwhelmingly attended by an affluent and influential members of the African-American population.
The event is a production of the Ivy Legacy Foundation, the charitable arm of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Rho Theta Omega Chapter. All proceeds raised by this eleemosynary organization are earmarked for such worthy beneficiaries as scholarships for deserving students and various community entities. Over the years, The Ivy Legacy Foundation has raised and donated in excess of $200,000.
With Clay Armbrister, Charisse R. Lillie, and A. Michael Pratt, serving as Honorary Co-Chairperson, Philly's Men Are Cookin' has three prominent individuals filling the role. Mr. Armbrister is the Chief of Staff for Mayor Michael A. Nutter. In that capacity, he bears responsibility for the coordination of policy among the various cabinet officials of the government. Ms. Lillie is the Vice President of Community Investment and the Executive Vice President of the Comcast Foundation. Mr. Pratt is a partner in the Philadelphia office of Pepper Hamilton LLP. His purview of expertise is commercial, product liability and mass tort litigation.
Hon. Sheila Woods-Skipper, a Judge in the Court of Common Pleas Court of Philadelphia County, is the President of The Ivy Legacy Foundation. She observed, "In these challenging economic times, The Ivy Legacy Foundation is elated that so many people continue to support our efforts to raise money for scholarships for outstanding high school students and other organizations serving the needs of our community."
Philly's Men Are Cookin' will take place on Saturday, November 22, 2008 at 7 p.m. It includes a VIP Reception prior to the event itself, the Main Event, a Silent Auction and a Post Event Social. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the following locations: Charlie Trendi Hair Salon (6218 Lebanon Ave - 215.921.2288); Glassman's Ticket Agency (231 S. 13th St.- 215.545.5400); and Omega Optical (2385 Cheltenham Avenue, Cheltenham Square Mall- 215.885.1200).
For additional information on the event, call the hotline at (215) 848-4735. For more information on the Ivy Legacy Foundation, visit www.ivylegacy.org. For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha, visit www.aka1908.com.
