20CHEFS: A Fundraiser for Beacon House Association with Co-chairs, Chefs Christine Brown and Michael Shafer
BEACON HOUSE OF SAN PEDRO ANNOUNCES
CO-CHAIRS CHEF CHRISTINE BROWN & CHEF MICHAEL SHAFER
20CHEFS: YOUR HOME, YOUR NIGHT, YOUR WAY TO SAVE A LIFE
DINNER FOR 10 for $10,000
San Pedro, CA (July 14, 2020) – Beacon House of San Pedro proudly announces the co-chairs of this year's annual event 20CHEFS: Your Home, Your Night, Your Way to Save a Life with Chefs Christine Brown and Michael Shafer. Because of the current health crisis, Beacon House Association of San Pedro, a long-term care facility and rehabilitation center for men, developed a shortfall in fundraising of more than $225,000 to assist those with alcohol and drug addiction issues. Guests are encouraged to purchase private dinners with a chef for ten thousand dollars. The meal will be prepared and served at the buyer’s residence or at chef’s restaurant. The location and date to be agreed upon by both parties. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the number of guests shall be limited to 10 for the culinary team's well-being. Participating chefs will continue to be announced throughout the summer. More information can be accessed at www.20CHEFS.org. The buying of the dinners ends on September 30, 2020.
“The impact of COVID-19 really challenged us, so to have chefs willing to step up and make the 20Chefs event possible is a lifesaver,” said Beacon House Association of San Pedro’s Executive Director, Brian Smith.
Co-chair and South Bay-based chef Christine Brown has long been a supporter of The Beacon House Association of San Pedro. She began using her cooking skills to raise money for the non-profit several years ago. A graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Brown opened her first restaurant in 1996 named Restaurant Christine cooking a fusion of French and Pacific Rim cuisine. For more than a decade and a half, the eatery received glowing accolades, and her business morphed into catering. She is planning on opening a new restaurant in the Southern California peninsula area.
"I have such deep respect for every single man at Beacon House. When I am with them, I am uplifted", says Chef Christine Brown. "I think that they feel the same. When we work side by side, they confide in me and are completely vulnerable when sharing their very personal, harrowing journeys of addiction and alcoholism. These men are brave and amazing examples of how, when united, we heal".
Torrance chef Michael Shafer, celebrates 28-years with his café, The Depot, joining Brown as co-chair. Along with his cookery team, the kitchen-helmer has assisted in raising more than a hundred thousand dollars for area charities. Shafer's dining room is known for its international flair of well-crafted food with a host of flavors from Europe to Asia to the American southwest.
Shafer states about co-chairing this year's event, "It's been a joy to have supported the Beacon House for over 30 years! They help good men in need so they can walk with their heads up high".
ABOUT: Founded in 1970 by Father Art Bartlett, a South Bay minister and Michael Dowling, an alcoholic merchant seaman, the Beacon House Association of San Pedro started with a single two-story building with 18 residents. Incorporated into a non-profit in 1974, the association and the accommodations have grown to six residential units with a capacity for 115 residents. The buildings include dining and kitchen areas and spaces for training, counseling, education, and 12-step meetings. The Beacon House Association of San Pedro, for the last 40 years, has assisted thousands of men, from all walks of life, and more than three dozen states, to regain their place as responsible, productive members of society. The non-profit's mission is to help men recover from the diseases of alcoholism and addiction to other drugs. The association provides food, shelter, treatment, and time to build a foundation in recovery and return to family, home, and community.
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