COVINGTON, La (press release) – Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House’s Men Who Cook fundraiser, sponsored by the Brooke It Forward Foundation and Cintas, is taking an exciting new twist this year! One of the Northshore’s most popular culinary events, Men Who Cook partners local “Celebrity Cooks” – leaders in St. Tammany or Washington Parishes – with local restaurants to help Hope House combat child sexual abuse on the Northshore. But instead of hosting a big gala on top of the Justice Center as in past years, Hope House is partnering with 10+ of the top local restaurants who will each host a “Hope House Week” between Oct. 5 and Nov. 8!
Beginning Oct. 5, Hope House will spotlight at least two restaurant/celebrity teams per week. When patrons dine in and donate on site during that restaurant’s Hope House week, they’ll have access to exclusive promotions and special offers. Individuals can also donate toward their favorite Men Who Cook team online through Nov. 8. The team that raises the most money – through online and in-house donations – by November 8 will win the award for Most Money Raised for Hope House. A panel of judges will also sample a specific dish from each restaurant’s regular menu to determine the winner in the Judges’ Choice award category.
“While Men Who Cook will look a little different this year, we could not be more excited about the opportunity that it gives us to reach even more people and create greater awareness of child abuse in our community,” says Hope House Executive Director Thomas Mitchell. “We encourage Northshore residents to dine out and support Hope House at our participating Men Who Cook restaurants over the next few weeks.”
A list of the 2020 Men Who Cook teams and their respective Hope House Weeks can be found at support.cachopehouse.org/MWC2020.
To maximize the impact of this year’s Men Who Cook donations, the In Jesus’ Name Foundation has announced that it will match all donations up to $50K! However, $50K must first be raised by Hope House in order for the organization to qualify for the matching contribution. This means that donors’ dollars will count for double what they otherwise would have, making a tremendous impact in the fight against child abuse locally.
Hope House is the only local agency that provides essential services like forensic interviews, and free advocacy and counseling to child abuse victims in St. Tammany and Washington Parishes – a need that is steadily growing with each passing year. Since the beginning of 2020, Hope House has conducted more forensic interviews with child abuse victims than in any preceding period in the organization’s 26-year history.
“When you consider the fact that Hope House forensics result in a 96 percent conviction rate for child abusers, you see just how critical our services are to this community. Not only do we begin and continue the healing process for child victims, but we work with local law enforcement to help ensure that child abusers are taken off the streets and held accountable,” says Thomas Mitchell.
Patrons can view the schedule of Hope House Weeks and dine-in deals at local restaurants by visiting support.cachopehouse.org/MWC2020. In addition, patrons can enter for a chance to win a 1931 Chevrolet Antique Car, donated by the In Jesus’ Name Foundation. Raffle tickets can be purchased online for $25 each or 5 for $100. Raffle tickets are available through Dec. 31, and the grand prize drawing will take place on Jan. 4, 2021.
