NEW ORLEANS (press release) – The Louisiana Hospitality Foundation announced it is bringing a part of their biggest annual fundraising event online. Gold Medal Chefs Week is scheduled for September 27 through October 1, 2020 and will feature items and packages for purchase, as well as a silent auction. The new online event was created in response to the cancellation of the ninth annual Gold Medal Chefs Gala and Hospitality Awards, originally scheduled for August but cancelled due to the ongoing pandemic restrictions and COVID-19 safety precautions.
The Foundation knew that end of summer 2020 was a tough time to solicit struggling hospitality business owners for donations of their products and services, therefore they introduced a new way to share revenue from the fundraising event with hospitality businesses. Gold Medal Chefs Week will feature Restaurant Dinner Packages available for purchase from New Orleans’ favorites including Galatoire’s Restaurant and Katie’s Restaurant. The event will also feature Chef’s Dinners and other items and packages that have been acquired on consignment, which create a revenue opportunity for both the Foundation and the hospitality business partner.
“The pandemic has caused devastating losses to hospitality businesses, especially those located in areas heavily dependent on tourism,” said Jennifer Kelley, executive director of the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. “We knew we needed to push forward with a fundraising event to sustain our work in the community that supports hospitality industry workers, but we also wanted to identify a way to help hospitality businesses. We believe Gold Medal Chefs Week can be a win-win, so we can continue to help hospitality workers in need.”
The online event goes live on Sunday, September 27 and concludes at 8 p.m. on Thursday, October 1. Participants can choose from a variety of ways to support the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation including:
- Make a Donation
- Purchase a Restaurant Take Out Dinner
- Bid on Auction Items
- Purchase Merchandise from a new Online Store
The Gold Medal Chefs Week website is http://www.goldmedalchefs.com.
Proceeds from the fundraiser will support the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation’s mission which is to strengthen Louisiana’s hospitality industry through support of individuals in the community.
