Cooking for a cause

We did a food event called Dining for the Dawson Inn With Chefs Who Care to raise money for Dawson Inn, a nonprofit hotel on our campus where patients and families can stay at discounted or free rates when receiving treatment or visiting from out of town. Myself and the manager of the inn invited 12 local chefs and restaurants and participated in a cook-off. 

We had local restaurants, hospital chefs (we have four hospitals we run here) and the local high school culinary team participate. The chefs could choose either an appetizer, entree or dessert to serve. There was a cash bar as well as tip jars on all chefs’ tables to raise additional funds. To add some competition, there were prizes awarded for first-, second- and third-place “peoples’ favorite” dishes, and the winner was crowned top chef. We raised close to $20,000 for the fund and had a blast.

Timothy Schoonmaker
System Director and Executive Chef
Centra Health System
Lynchburg, Va.