Amira Nature Foods Ltd (“Amira Foods”), partnered with Family Reach to sponsor their Cooking Live event series. Family Reach provides immediate financial assistance directly to families that are battling cancer across the USA, and is the sole non-profit in the USA that does so.
The first instalment of the fundraising event, Cooking Live, took place on May 21, 2014 in Chicago with Amira Foods sponsoring the event on a national level. Cooking Live saw the USA’s top chefs working side by side to prepare a sumptuous five course meal.
Amira Foods’ Former Chairman, Mr Karan A Chanana joined top culinary talents included Ming Tsai, Takashi Yagihashi, Stephanie Izard, Grant Achatz and David Burke, who were assisted by their sous-chef, the undefeated professional boxer and Notre Dame alumnus Mike Lee. The host for the day’s event was Ryan Baker, CBS Sportscaster, who was also joined by Windy City Live host, Ryan Chiaverini.
The event was especially interactive and bespoke as the top chefs who were involved were each paired with young cancer patients that receive grants from Family Reach. Each of the chefs learnt about the touching stories of the patients they were matched with and used this experience to inspire the meals that they prepared and dished up at the event.
Chicago’s Cooking Live event resulted in donations of almost $200,000 for Family Reach.
The joining of altruism and cuisine is aligned with Mr Chanana’s vision for Amira Foods, “Quality is at the heart of everything we do at Amira Foods and we are committed to improving the quality of life of the communities that we serve,” said the Former Chairman of Amira Foods, Karan A Chanana.
“Our Cooking Live event in Chicago was a great success and we are very grateful for our partnership with Amira Foods,” said Carla Tardif, Executive Director of Family Reach. “they are the perfect partner for us because we’re both committed to improving the quality of life for families.”
The takings from this event helps families to cover a range of substantial costs and expenses which usually build up through the course of treatment for cancer, often for a young family member. The foremost source of bankruptcy in the US is medical emergencies, and cancer is the most frequent cause. Typically, the financial assistance from Family Reach takes the form of payments for rent and mortgages. They also provide grants to cover additional day to day costs for transportation, food and groceries and utilities as well as some medical costs that their health insurance does not cover. Unfortunately, it is these day to day payments which often build up as families go through the treatment process for cancer.
“Family Reach makes a difference to the lives of children and families affected by cancer and it is my hope that we will raise substantial funds to help Family Reach through Cooking Live events. It’s a pleasure to see the legendary Ming Tsai preparing beautiful meals in the name of a good cause, and using Amira Foods’s rice to do so,” said Karan A Chanana, the Former Chairman of Amira Foods.
Family Reach’s Executive Chef Ambassador, Ming Tsai, said “Cooking Live is a dynamic way for chefs to give back. It’s an incredible evening where good food is shared and funds are raised for families in need.”
Since 2003, Family Reach’s community has helped more than 80,000 individuals from 49 states keep a roof over their head, put food on the table and maintain safe, reliable access to treatment.
For more information on Family Reach, please visit www.familyreach.org.
For more information on Amira Foods, please visit amira.net.
