Will County Children’s Advocacy Center seeking sponsors for bigger and better Men Who Cook competition at new Mokena venue

January 18

JOLIET – The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center is seeking sponsors at all levels for what is expected to be the biggest and the best-ever Men Who Cook culinary competition and fundraiser.

Due to the extraordinary popularity of this event, this year’s Men Who Cook will be held at a new and larger venue: Pipefitters Local #597 Training Center at 10850 187th Street in Mokena. It will be held from 6-9 p.m. on Saturday, March 26.

“Men Who Cook has turned out to be the most fun and exciting fundraiser in Will County,” said State’s Attorney James Glasgow. “Last year’s competition was so well attended that we had to find a larger venue to accommodate all the guests and cooks.”

At Men Who Cook, local guys who know their way around the kitchen open up their secret recipe boxes, don their chef’s hats and prepare their favorite dishes for public judging. It is an affordable, fun and casual competition that draws guests and amateur cooks from throughout Will County.

The event provides excellent sponsorship opportunities for local businesses and organizations. Sponsorship levels range from $250 to $2,500 and offer escalating levels of recognition for your business or organization through Men Who Cook promotional materials as well as during the event.

Organizations that already have agreed to sponsor this year’s Men Who Cook include: Rasmussen College at the Master Chef Level; Northern Illinois Steel Supply Company at the Master Chef Level; and Will County Take Back the Night at the Iron Chef Level.

Generous in-kind sponsors include Pipefitters Local #597 Training Center-Mokena, WJOL Radio, Bugle Newspapers and Signs by Tomorrow.

All proceeds benefit the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center, which was established by State’s Attorney Glasgow in 1995 to improve the way child abuse cases are investigated. The center’s staff performs child-sensitive interviews when there are allegations of sexual or severe physical abuse. These interviews are conducted by trained and caring professionals in a non-suggestive, child-friendly environment. The children’s recorded statements have been used in the successful prosecution of hundreds of child predators.

The state’s attorney founded the center as a 501-c-3 non-profit organization so it would not impact Will County taxpayers. As a result, the center has relied on grants, foundations and fund raisers like “Men Who Cook” to operate.

Be sure to keep March 26 open for Men Who Cook. The cost to taste bite-sized samples of fine cuisine from local chefs is $35 per person; $60 per couple.

Guests this year will receive the Red Carpet treatment when they are greeted by WJOL’s Lynne, Mary and Natalie, who will serve as the evening’s hostesses. All cooks will be interviewed for local cable television.

Cooks are encouraged to turn up the heat in the competition not only by demonstrating their culinary prowess. A prize also will be awarded for the cook with the most creative display.

For details on how to sponsor this exciting event, please call the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center at (815) 774-4565. Or you can visit the center on the Web at www.willcountychildrensadvocacy.org,  www.menwhocook.info or on Facebook at facebook.com/menwhocook.