Marla Schecht, Event Co-Chair, Administrative Chair and Ambassador; Richard Crawford, Honorary Chair; Jani Crawford, Mindy Romanoff, Ambassador and Committee member.
The Taste of the Nation Ambassadors’ kick-off party held on Jan.19th was filled with so much excitement and energy it felt like a new event.
The kick-off for the 17th annual event was held at the Perrysburg home of Dean and Becky Kasperzak. They donated their beautiful home and the fabulous appetizers while Heidelberg distributing company provided water and wonderful wines and Brown-Forman donated the Finlandia Vodka.
Presentations by the past grant recipients really made a great impression on corporate guests and ticket selling ambassadors. Toledo Day Nursery, Toledo GROWS, Aurora House and NWO Food bank all commented on their grant checks from last year while reviewing how the money is helping them end childhood hunger in the community. One in five children struggle with hunger. This group is ending childhood hunger with the community’s help.
Event Co-Chairs Labib Hajjar, Marla Schecht, Terri Thompson and Ty Szumigala, supported by their steering committee Dean Kasperzak, Craig Joseph, Gus Mancy and Moussa Salloukh, all predict another sell-out, high-earning fundraiser at the Toledo Club on April 29. After the Kick-off, the incredibly generous Labib Hajjar provided a full meal from Beirut.
Three honorary chairs were announced: Diane Larson, from 13 ABC News, media chair, Sue Hague-Rogers, a long time committee member, and Richard Crawford the Senior Vice President Chief Technology Operations officer at Owens-Illinois.
The ambassadors are led by Alli McMaster, ticket chair, and include: James Caldwell, Terri DeRosa, Andrea DeWood, Madonna Fong, Labib Hajjar, Catina Harding, David Joseph, Amir Khan, Nikki Kellers, Jaunita Kopan, Nancy Lanier, Gus Mancy, Corrinne Manera, Mary Martin, Kristin Mollenkopf, Carolyn Newell-Turner, Mark Rennels, Mindy Romanoff, Marla Schecht, Pat Scheuer, TJ Swigart, Mike Szuberla, and David Wojkiewicz. There were friendly wagers going on as to who was going to be this year’s top sellers, who receive accolades and a prize!
The event will have almost 40 restaurants and dessert places donating their cuisine along-side Heidelberg Distributing Company, Glazer, and Brown-Forman providing wine, waters, and spirits. Guest Chefs will be announced later. Participating restaurants include Hungry I, La Scola, Mancy Restaurants, Beirut, Toledo Club, Evans Street, Poco Piatti and many more.
The raffle has newcomer Jeffrey Mann Fine Jewelers donating a beautiful Vahan bracelet. Another exciting new raffle prize is $1,500 given by Taylor Automotive Family that Dave Taylor said, “it can be used for whatever the winner wants!” Toledo Furs, a long time supporter of this event, will be donating a fabulous fur coat. Many other raffle items are to be announced.
The Columbus band “Moving to Boise” will be entertaining after the food tent closes. The event will also include the Photobooth Live photo booth. A1 Limousine will provide a safe, free ride home for whomever needs it.
Marla Schecht and Terri Thompson announced that there will be Check-in for Children happy hours – pre-events planned for selling tickets and promoting the participating restaurants. Go to www.facebook.com/ TasteOfTheNationToledo to not miss any events.
Ticket sales began at the kick-off and will end March 18 or when the event sells out. Go to www.toledotaste.org to purchase tickets.
