Since 2010, we have supported Pre-K-12 students with Food Education that is part of teachers’ classrooms and fosters informed food choices.
See the Impact
Get your seat at the table for the culinary fundraising event of the year! For one night only, the brightest stars of Chicago’s food scene come together to raise funds for Pilot Light’s Food Education mission. Get your tickets today while they last!
Presenting Partner: Sprouts Healthy Communities Foundation
Learn from the experts: Pilot Light Educator Ryan Johnson shares the inside scoop on all things teaching science through Food Education! Connect our Food Education Standards and the NGSS to enhance your curriculum and improve student outcomes.
Your gift in any amount supports Food Education in classrooms and communities throughout the year.
If your company matches gifts to nonprofits like Pilot Light, here are easy instructions on how to double the impact of your gift. We also have instructions on how to make a gift of stock.
We welcome you to sign up for our newsletter, contact us, and check out our blog!
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about Food Education and creating impact through our programs to join our team!
Nov
6
Pilot Light Gala 2026: Feed Your Mind
6:00 PMRockwell on the River (3057 N Rockwell St, Chicago, IL 60618)
Don’t forget! Tickets to the annual FEED YOUR MIND GALA are available at feedyourmindgala.org ✨
Join us November 6 at Rockwell on the River for the Feed Your Mind Gala, supporting Pilot Light’s mission to bring hands-on Food Education to students across the country.
26 chefs. One incredible evening. One powerful mission.
Swipe to meet our two fabulous cocktail hour chefs for this year’s gala! Thank you to the entire Feed Your Mind Team for your dedication to making FOOD EDUCATION FOR ALL a reality!
THE FEED YOUR MIND GALA TEAM:
Presenting Partner: @sproutsfnd
Founding Chefs @jasonhammel @paulkahan @matthiasm1966 &
Justin Large
Hosted by @joinerspod
Chair @elsenorhospitality
Planning @noraeventschicago
Honoree @leahgordon34
Content Creation @saviacreatives
Photography + Videography @juanchoscphotography
Venue @rockwellontheriver
Production @luxeproevents
Floral @theroofcrop
Catering @oneoffhospitality
Meet Chef Lawrence Letrero | Bayan Ko + Bayan Ko Diner
@lawrence_letrero @bayankodinerchicago @bayankochicago
Chef Lawrence Letrero, alongside his wife and business partner Raquel, has built Bayan Ko into a celebration of bold Filipino-Cuban flavors, cultural heritage, and the stories that connect us through food. For this year’s gala, Chef Lawrence will be creating a special selection of bites throughout cocktail hour, showcasing his signature approach to vibrant, thoughtful cuisine.
Meet Chef Carlos López Muñoz | Istmo Oaxacan Cuisine
@cblmunoz @istmochicago
Born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico, Chef Carlos López Muñoz brings the flavors, traditions, and memories of his homeland to Chicago through Istmo. His cooking celebrates the rich culinary heritage of Oaxaca while incorporating a modern perspective shaped by his experiences working alongside acclaimed chefs.
For the gala, Chef Carlos will be curating special cocktail-hour bites inspired by the vibrant flavors and traditions of Oaxacan cuisine.
This week, we welcomed the 8th cohort of Food Education Fellows to Pilot Light! The Food Education Fellowship yearlong paid professional development intensive cohort made up of 25+ PreK-12 U.S. educators.
Fellows teach Pilot Light Food Education lessons on a weekly basis and receive stipends, classroom materials, 1-on-1 coaching, peer learning, and training from Pilot Light throughout the year. We are so excited to welcome this year`s Food Education Fellows to our growing community! Let`s get ready for a fantastic school year full of food, fun, and learning!
