Chefs' Dinner Gala
Overview
Produced Houston Food Bank's 25th Annual Chefs' Dinner, a five-course gourmet wine dinner featuring James Beard Award-winning chefs serving 500 guests at Hotel ZaZa - Museum District, raising $520K to provide 1 million meals across 18-county service area.
Event Production
Managed comprehensive gala logistics including chef partnerships (Hugo Ortega, Evelyn Garcia, Aaron Bludorn, Brandon Wilhelm, Marcos Juarez), venue relationships, wine program development, menu curation, and guest experience design. Coordinated Host Committee cultivation and sponsorship activation maximizing fundraising impact.
Donor Engagement Strategy
Designed multi-touch stewardship program including VIP experiences, strategic table assignments, Barbara Falik Humanitarian Award presentation, and personalized recognition strategies. Developed sponsorship packages and corporate partnership opportunities driving $520K+ revenue.
Operational Excellence
Executed run-of-show coordination, vendor management, audiovisual production, and real-time event monitoring ensuring seamless five-course service delivery and optimal donor cultivation experience.