Easterseals South Florida is gearing up for the 36th annual Festival of Chefs on September 24, a marquee culinary event that raises funds for vocational culinary training programs serving students with special abilities. Tickets are available at festivalofchefs.com.
A recent episode of CNEWS TV's community series, hosted by Mark Allen, brought together four voices connected to the event to talk about why this kind of hands-on philanthropy matters. The panel included Christoph Babka, co-founder of Men in Pink; Marco Zuniga Gutierrez, director of development at Miami Jewish Health Foundation; Sardou Mertilus, partner at Citrin Cooperman; and Chef Summer Navarro, a baking and pastry chef instructor at St. Thomas University.
The conversation ranged from the nuts and bolts of the Festival itself to broader themes of community service — particularly the difference between writing a check and actually showing up to witness the impact of your giving. Panelists also touched on the work of Men in Pink, which emphasizes low-barrier social philanthropy, and Miami Jewish Health's ongoing care for South Florida seniors.
At its core, the Festival of Chefs is about more than a great meal. The event helps culinary students with special abilities build confidence, develop marketable skills, and find a pathway to meaningful careers in the food industry — a mission that has driven the gathering for more than three decades.
This story was reported by Community Newspapers.
