The Falls, one of the largest open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complexes in the United States, welcomed hundreds of food lovers to the second annual “Chefs Cook it up for Kids.” This culinary extravaganza raised close to $60,000 for the United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education.
“The Falls was the perfect backdrop for ’Chefs Cook it up for Kids’,” said Julie Goldman, general manager at The Falls. “This was another opportunity for us to support the community and rally restaurants and others together to benefit The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education.”
The event was a real treat featuring delicious food from over 25 of South Florida’s premier restaurants and caterers such as A Joy Wallace Catering Production & Design Team; Anacapri; A&S Delicious Catering; Bargello Bistro; Café Sambal; Creative Tastes Catering; CrepeMaker; Death By Chocolate; Ever After Cake Designs; Fare to Remember Creative Caterer; Golden Chic Catering; Hotel Intercontinental Miami; LA Sweets; Los Ranchos Steakhouse; Power Pizza; Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory; Smith & Wollensky; Starbucks Coffee; The Melting Pot; Trattoria Sole; We’re Having a Party, Inc. and more.
Also, attendees had the special chance to mingle with Laurie Jennings, WPLG Local 10 main anchor and United Way board member, who presented Joy Wallace with The 2010 Chef’s Cook it Up for Kids Excellence Award. Wallace, an icon of the South Florida catering industry, was the sole recipient of this award for her commitment to the Miami community, serving as dedicated businesswoman and caterer.
“We are blessed to have so many people come out and support United Way through this exciting event,” said Harve Mogul, presi
dent and CEO, United Way of Miami-Dade. “With the help of The Falls and other great community partners we are able to continue working to ensure all children get the best start in school and in life.”
Sponsors of the 2010 Chefs’ Cook it Up for Kids were the following: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida as presenting sponsor; The Falls as host sponsor; The Miami Herald/el Nuevo Herald as media sponsor; and Amazing Parties and Baptist Medical Plaza at Country Walk as Kids’ Zone sponsors. Additional sponsors included Community Newspapers, Costco, Diageo, Kidding Around and Running Around at the Falls, MasterCard Latin America and Zuni Transportation.
The United Way Center for Excellence in Early Education is an innovative learning, teaching, and training initiative dedicated to elevating the quality of early care and education in Miami-Dade and beyond. The Center models proven best practices, and shares those practices with adult learners including parents, educators, and child care providers. The Center also works with business leaders and lawmakers to raise the standards of early childhood education, and support sustainable and lasting change.
For more information about The Falls, go to www.simon.com or call 305-255-4570.