Instead of giving Cincinnatians a delicious meal, local celebrity chef Jean-Robert de Cavel is serving up a newly reinvigorated fundraiser he hopes satisfies more than appetites.
For the nine years since Jean-Robert de Cavel’s and his wife Annette lost their daughter, Tatiana, to SIDS, they have been organized fundraisers to benefit the SIDS network. This year, the fundraiser, now called
Eat, Play, Give, will be held in October, in conjunction with National SIDS Awareness Month. For the first time, the money raised will go to the newly created de Cavel Family SIDS Foundation.
“They way things were working with the SIDS network, we realized we could decide more where the funds go if we had our own non-profit,” says Annette de Cavel, wife of Jean-Robert. “Brunch is a good family event and a way to turn something tragic into something positive.”
The de Cavel’s are partnering with sponsor Cincinnati Children’s Hospital this year because of the hospital’s work to lower the city’s infant mortality rate. Each year, around 200 guests come to the brunch. Since its inception, the event has raised more than $600,000. Some of the money raised goes to the Tatiana de Cavel Scholarship Fund at the Midwest Culinary Institute, which is where the brunch takes place.
In the past, the brunch was just one part of the week-long 7 Days for SIDS fundraiser. This year, the brunch becomes its own event, while the de Cavel’s plan on hosting other events throughout the year. They know first-hand how SIDS can affect families in devastating ways, so they wanted to create a family-friendly fundraising event. Several top local chefs will be on-site preparing kid-friendly meals and children will be able to make their own cookies. Adults can enjoy a silent auction.
Jean-Robert chose brunch to allow his fellow chefs to maintain time with their families. It also gives chefs a chance to create different kinds of meals, since many of the restaurants participating don’t serve brunch. “It’s something very different and fun for the chefs,” says Jean-Robert de Cavel. “We want everyone to be relaxed and enjoy themselves.”
Do Good:
Attend: the Brunch on October 9 to eat for a good cause
Donate: to the de Cavel family SIDS foundation and help save a life
Check back: to Eat, Play, Give for more events in the future
By
Evan Wallis
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