Feed Your Mind Gala 2024

We have the power to make a lasting impact in our community through Food Education. Show your support and become an agent of change with us Friday, November 1st at the annual Feed Your Mind Gala! Featuring an unforgettable meal curated by Pilot Light's Founding Chefs: Matthias Merges, Paul Kahan, Jason Hammel, and Justin Large.

About the Feed Your Mind Gala: 

Pilot Light’s annual Feed Your Mind Gala is one of Chicago’s most anticipated fundraising & culinary events. Guests experience a one-of-a-kind evening featuring a meal crafted by Chicago’s most-sought after culinary stars, and help feed our mission to bring the power of food into classrooms across the country. 

This mix of award-winning chefs from a variety of culinary backgrounds creates an unforgettable dining experience for guests as they raise funds to invest in the future of Food Education. No other event offers the opportunity to share the room and eat the food of multiple James Beard award-winners and Rising Stars while also giving back to the community.

Antoni Porowski joins the Feed Your Mind Gala! 

We are thrilled to announce Antoni Porowski as the celebrity host of the 2024 Feed Your Mind Gala. Porowski is a New York Times Bestselling author, an Emmy-winning producer and resident food and wine expert on Netflix’s globally-renowned series Queer Eye, and star and executive producer of National Geographic’s highly-anticipated docuseries No Taste Like Home. Set for Friday, November 1, 2024 at 6p at Venue West in Chicago, the event promises to be an extraordinary evening that combines world-class dining with a powerful mission. Learn more about Antoni’s appearance at our annual fundraiser here!

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 Feed Your Mind Guest Chef lineup: 

• Phillip Branch (Hawksmoor)
• Rodolfo Cuadros (Amaru & Bloom Plant Based Kitchen) 
• Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies) 
• Tim Flores and Genie Kwon (Kasama) 
• Dominique Leach (Lexington Betty Smokehouse)
• James Martin (Bocadillo Market) 
• Oliver Poilevey (Obelix & Le Bouchon) 
• José Sosa (The Greggory Hearth & Tavern)
• Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe) 
• Jonathan Zaragoza (Birrieria Zaragoza) 

These incredible Guest Chefs will prepare a one-of-a-kind meal curated by Pilot Light’s Founding Chefs: Matthias Merges, Paul Kahan, Jason Hammel, and Justin Large. We are also excited to announce that Jeremy Barrett of Lemon Chicago will be our guest bartender for the evening creating custom cocktails for our Feed Your Mind guests! Finally, the Guest Chefs will have some additional all-star kitchen support from Chefs Erick Williams and Davante Josey of Virtue Hospitality Group! 

We are grateful to our Gala Honorees and Co-Chairs: 

Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 Co-Chairs: Leah Gordon and Felipe Ospina

Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 Honoree: Ann Weiser

Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 Young Changemaker Honoree: Kai Fogelson

Purchase your tickets to the 2024 FEED YOUR MIND Gala today! 

About Our 2024 Honorees 

Ann Weiser – 2024 Feed Your Mind Honoree 

An accomplished and highly experienced global business leader, Ann Weiser’s 35+ year career includes roles in human resources, business integration, organizational transformation and talent development.

Ann’s diverse business experience encompasses global consumer products, entertainment, sports and technology.  The common thread throughout her career has been helping leaders and organizations successfully navigate cultural and strategic change.  

Fueled by her passion for developing successful leaders, Ann served on the faculty of the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina from 2013-2017.  During this time, Ann established Weiser Works, a Human Resources consulting practice dedicated to business improvement through people engagement.

Currently, Ann is the Chief People Officer and serves on the leadership team of PremiumMedia360, an advertising technology company. Ann serves on the board of Inclusity, a national consulting and training company focused on improving business performance through inclusion.  Ann is also active in Pilot Light, a food education group based in Chicago.

Kai Fogelson – Inaugural Young Changemaker Honoree 

Kai Fogelson is an incoming freshman at the University of Michigan’s Stephen M. Ross School of Business, planning to concentrate in finance and strategy while pursuing a minor in sustainability. Graduating with high honors from Walter Payton College Preparatory High School, Kai founded the Hydroponic Venture Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing pathways for youth education and engagement by introducing indoor hydroponic growing systems to Chicago Public Schools and local communities. With programs in 15 schools, reaching over 2,000 students and teachers, Kai is committed to changing the narrative around healthy eating and influencing others to make informed food choices through innovative and sustainable food education solutions.

Our annual Feed Your Mind Gala would not be possible without the support of our generous sponsors: 

• High Road Wine and Spirits 
• The Roof Crop
• DNO Produce
• Sysco
• Nestle Premium Water Brands
• Resolution
• Resy | AMEX 
• Hawksmoor Chicago
• Eli’s Cheesecake 
• Chef’s Warehouse
• Virtue Cider
• Hoste Cocktails
•  The Spice House 
• Niman Ranch
• Six4 Creative – Media Sponsor 

To learn more about Gala tickets, tables, and sponsorship opportunities, please email Tamara Golden, Director of Development, at tamara@pilotlightchefs.org. 

 

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