'Feeding Our Future'... An Ice Cream Social

MasterChef Season 1 Finalist Jake Gandolfo's "United We Feed" hosts "Feeding our Future... an Ice Cream Social"

Celebrity Chef Jake Gandolfo is bringing his talent and compassion to the Northland in an effort to raise money for Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank and feed area children in need.

Gandolfo recently gained fame on FOX’s competitive cooking show, MasterChef with Gordon Ramsay. He won the hearts of many of the show’s fans thanks to his over-sized, charismatic personality.

“Feeding our Future… an Ice Cream Social” will be hosted by Gandolfo and held at the Superior Middle School, 3626 Hammond Avenue, Superior, WI, on Thursday, August 2, 2012, 5-8:00 p.m. All proceeds will benefit the food bank and it hunger-relief efforts for children in NW Wisconsin and NE Minnesota.

“We want the event to be a fun, family-friendly evening with a great atmosphere for both kids and adults,” Gandolfo said. “There will be professional child care included. We’re planning interactive games and refreshments for the kids in one part of the school, and live music, a Silent Auction and hors d’oeuvres for adults in another. Then, we will bring everyone together for an ice cream social. It’s like a date night for a couple and a fun night for kids.” What’s more, Chef Gandolfo will provide cooking demonstrations for both the adults and kids.

Gandolfo and his wife Erin are on a “Culinary Crusade” of America. They recently purchased a 32-foot motor home and are traversing the country raising awareness and funds for those in need throughout the United States. Jake decided to use his culinary talent for good and feels this is a positive way to give back. In June, the two hosted a similar event for the Food Bank of the Rockies in Casper, WY. This event raised $30,000 for the food bank. “We are thrilled to be working with such an energetic and compassionate person,” said Shaye Moris, the food bank’s Executive Director. “It is a unique event for our area and we are excited to be involved.”

Gandolfo is known for producing fun-filled, first-of-its-kind events. He is hopeful that this one will make a difference to the 15,000+ children Second Harvest feeds each year.

Tickets for the event are $25 per person or $80 for a family of four (4). They can be purchased at Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, 4503 Airpark Boulevard, Duluth, or on-line www.northernlakesfoodbank.org. For more information call Second Harvest (218) 727-5653, ext. 118 or email amy@northernlakesfoodbank.org

About Jake Gandolfo
Millions of people from around the country recognize Jake Gandolfo as being the construction worker that came out of the “culinary closet” to compete in the world’s most successful cooking show, MasterChef. Jake was one of the top fourteen finalists out of 15,000 people that attempted to take part of the season 1 production and was America’s odd’s on favorite to win the show. Jake is the owner and executive chef of Custom Culinary Concepts based in Santa Cruz, CA. Since MasterChef, Jake has been giving back to the community locally and abroad through his current culinary adventure, United We Feed, a cross country effort to raise funds and awareness for under-fed folks here on American soil. For more information, visit Jake’s blog, www.unitedwefeed.com.

About Second Harvest
Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank is the region’s only food bank and rescuer of nationally and regionally donated food for 120 non-profit programs and approximately 43,000 people in need throughout NW Wisconsin (Douglas, Bayfield, Ashland and Iron Counties) and NE Minnesota (St. Louis, Carlton, Lake and Cook counties). Over the last year, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank has rescued and distributed 4.3 million pounds of food or enough food for 3.5 million meals for those in need throughout the Northland. For more information visit www.northernlakesfoodbank.org.