ANTHONY RIZZO RAISES $140,000 FOR CHARITY WITH “COOK-OFF FOR CANCER”

ANTHONY RIZZO RAISES $140,000 FOR CHARITY

WITH “COOK-OFF FOR CANCER”

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo hosted another successful “Cook-Off for Cancer” on Friday, May 19th at Revel Downtown.  Approximately 400 supportive guests were in attendance to help raise almost $140,000 for pediatric cancer research, care and support.  These are causes that hit close to home for both Rizzo and his family after surviving non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma when he was diagnosed in 2008.

The event featured eleven Chicago chefs serving upscale versions of ballpark food served by various players from the Chicago Cubs team.  Guests voted on their favorite dish by tipping servers  and in the end it was Chef Molly Johnson of Limelight Catering who won with her ‘Frozen Ball Park Nachos’ made with vanilla ice cream, chaco-taco chips, buttered rum caramel, roasted peanuts, and salted pretzels. Other participating chefs included Lee Ann Whippen of Chicago q, Mario Hernandez of Del Frisco’s, Joseph Farina of Joe’s Fish, David Burns of Levy Restaurants, Tony Priolo of Piccolo Sogno, Mark Sparacino of Prosecco, Cosmo Goss of Publican, Doug Psaltis of RPM Italian, Joseph Heppe of Untitled 111 and last year’s winner Giuseppe Tentori of GT Fish and Oyster.

The live auction was led by Comcast’s Kelly Crull and featured throwing the first pitch at a Cubs game, and dinner with a Cubs player while the silent auction showcased signed sports memorabilia and unique experiences.  Participating players included Starlin Castro, Edwin Jackson, Jason Hammel, Jeff Samardzija, Travis Wood and many more.  In addition to Anthony’s mother Laurie, father John, brother Johnny and sister-in-law Sarah, members of the Cubs organization in attendance included Tom Ricketts and other Cubs front office executives.

“Thanks to my family, the Cubs family, chefs and everyone who attended, the Cook-Off was a huge success,” explains Rizzo.   “Through this event the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is able to support and help families who are battling cancer.”  The beneficiaries of this year’s Cook-Off for Cancer are Bear Necessities Pediatric Cancer Foundation’s Bear Hugs program, Family Reach Foundation and the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago.

The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2012 by Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo. The mission of his foundation is to raise money for cancer research and to provide support to children and their families while battling the disease. Every family deserves a fighting chance.

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