A Tasteful Pursuit
A Tasteful Pursuit Washington, DC
Shining a Spotlight on Efforts to End Childhood Hunger in America.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Share Our Strength founder and executive director Billy Shore
The 2009 A Tasteful Pursuit dinner at Charlie Palmer Steak featured honored guests U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. These distinguished leaders joined some of the country's finest chefs including former White House chefs and many loyal supporters and sponsors to raise funds and honor the Obama Administration's commitment to end childhood hunger by 2015.
Secretary Vilsack reiterated President Obama's commitment to end childhood hunger in the United States by 2015 and, stressing how important the goal is for national security, economic stability, and the education our nation's children, he described how his agency will help meet this goal.
"...the only job interview I've ever had was with President Obama, and he said to me 'I know you'll have to deal with farmers, and bio fuels and things like that, but what I want you to do first, the most important thing in this job, is to make sure that America's kids are well fed.' "
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack
Maryland Governor O'Malley
Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and Share Our Strength recently launched the Partnership to End Childhood Hunger in Maryland and Governor O'Malley vowed to be the first governor in the country to wipe out childhood hunger in his state. In his briefing on the six-month-old Partnership, Governor O'Malley told attendees, "Step One in the How-to Manual for ending childhood hunger is to partner with Share Our Strength." The Governor cited changes the Partnership has already brought about, including piloting "Grab and Go" meals, offering After School Supper (one of only 10 states in country), and accepting applications online for the Food Supplement Program (formerly food stamps).
Event Chairs Dr. Ronald and Beth Dozoretz
The Governor also shared some of the latest statistics from the partnership, which support the goal of bridging the gap between those in need and the nutrition assistance programs that can help them.
To date, the Partnership has:
- Added 24,000 children to school breakfast program (nearly 20% increase)
- Enrolled 17,700 more families in Food Supplement Program
- Added 25 licensed child care facilities to the Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Host Chef Charlie Palmer and Former White House Chef Walter Scheib
Chefs are the backbone of Share Our Strength's work. We we are grateful for the strong and continued support of the culinary community, especially those who contributed to the elegant multi-course meal, led by host chef Charlie Palmer:
- Matt Hill, Charlie Palmer Steak
- Jeffrey Buben, Bistro Bis
- R.J. Cooper, Vidalia
- Keith Luce, The Herbfarm and former White House Sous Chef
- Todd Gray, Equinox Restaurant
- Brian McBride, Blue Duck Tavern
- Bryan Voltaggio, Volt Restaurant
- Walter Scheib, former White House Executive Chef
- Ann Amernick, former White House Assistant Pastry Chef
- Nadine Brown, Sommelier, Charlie Palmer Steak
Share Our Strength offers special thanks to event chairs Ron and Beth Dozoretz for their leadership.
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