Associate Board

What is the Pilot Light Associate Board?

The purpose of the Pilot Light Associate Board (AB) is to promote, raise awareness, and fundraise for Pilot Light’s food education programming in Chicago. Members will support Pilot Light in cultivating relationships in the community and engaging others via social media, in social functions and events, and by volunteering at Pilot Light events.

The AB comprises the board at large and elected members of the leadership team.  The leadership team is a small group of dedicated individuals who are stakeholders and committee leaders for the AB as a whole; they hold the primary responsibilities of organizing the AB fundraising and outreach efforts. The Associate Board at large members and the leadership board collaborate to support the AB’s fundraising and outreach efforts.

The screening process for the 2023 Associate Board Application is now complete. Click here to read about the AB class of 2023! 

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Questions about the Associate Board? Check out our one-pager.

2023 Event – Trivia Night at Paulie Gee’s

In March 2023, the AB hosted a trivia night with Whaddyaknow? Trivia at Paulie Gee’s in Logan Square. Associate Board members and supporters enjoyed pizza and drinks while competing in a trivia competition that included some food education-themed questions promoting Pilot Light’s mission. A raffle fundraiser featured prizes from local vendors including a cheese tasting at Beautiful Rind, a gourmet snack box from All Together Now,a giftcard to Lula Cafe and Opening Day tickets to the Chicago Cubs. Proceeds from the raffle raised over $700 in support of Pilot Light’s food education programming! Thank you to all of the partners who made this event such a success and to everyone who turned out to support Pilot Light!

Check out past years’ AB events in support of Pilot Light below! 

Falling for Food Education: A Happy Hour 

For the first in-person event since 2019, the AB hosted a happy hour at The Charleston Bar who graciously donated proceeds from cocktails for the evening. Tickets were free and the event also featured the delicious tapas and bocadillos (Spanish sandwiches!) of Pilot Light friend and chef James Martin of Lincoln Park’s Bocadillo Market. Raffle prizes included wine, a bottled Gold Fashioned from our friends at Apologue, apothecary items and a gift card from Paperish Mess, gift cards from The Vig, and spin classes from Spynergy in Wicker Park. Members reconnected with friends and raised over $2,000 in support of Pilot Light’s food education programming! Thank you to everyone who turned out for the event and all the partners who made the event possible!

Making Spirits Bright

In their first ever virtual event, the AB hosted a vinyasa yoga flow from Christina Wu, hot toddy cocktail making demo with Fatima Butler of Rooted in Hospitality (featuring Apologue curated drink kits), and a presentation about how Pilot Light pivoted during the COVID-19 pandemic to create Pilot Light Anywhere: PreK-12 free e-learning food education lessons on our Food Education Center.  The event was a way to connect virtually with peers, relax, and learn more about the work being done in Pilot Light classrooms! Thank you to all our partners for a lovely holiday event!

Pretty Cool Ice Cream

In collaboration with Disney II Magnet Elementary school teachers and students and pastry chef Dana Cree, students designed and marketed popsicles for Pretty Cool’s Logan Square shop. Two students’ popsicles were selected and Chef Dana visited the classroom to share samples and talk about how “fantasy” flavors like Bubblegum are created and built from flavors found in nature.

Pilot Light Block Party

The AB paid homage to Pilot Light’s very first fundraiser, the 2013 Pilot Light Back to School Block Party, by hosting a block party for families, board members, staff, and the West Loop/Fulton Market neighborhood benefiting Pilot Light’s food education programming. The event included beer, a raffle, music from local musicians, an assortment of games and activities, and food items from local chefs and restaurants.

End of Year Dinner with Chef Q

In December 2019, we celebrated the end of the year for the Pilot Light AB with our friends and families. Chef Q and her team created an incredible family-style dinner with local ingredients, while guests played bingo and enjoyed wine and beer!