This week, the Women’s Lighthouse Project, Colorado’s premier organization serving women living with HIV/AIDS in Colorado, announced the celebrity chef teams for their annual fundraiser, Cook-off for a Cause in recognition of World Aids Day, on December 1. This “Iron Chef” type event pairs three local celebrities with three top chefs in a cooking competition to raise crucial funds to support programs that empower HIV+ women around the state. Cook-off for A Cause will take place at Mise en Place in Lodo from 6:30-8:30.

“We are ecstatic with this year’s cook-off celebrity teams.” said Shannon Behning, Executive Director of the Women’s Lighthouse Project. “Chef Jamey Fader of Lola, Chef Sheila Lucero of Jax’s Fishhouse and Chef Goose Sorensen of Solera will all be coming back this year to compete for the Cook-off title. As for our celebrities, we are thrilled to have the newly crowned Miss Colorado USA 2009, Patrice Williams and Former Nuggets star, Mark Randall. We are still confirming our third celebrity guest.”

This annual event is hosted by Molly Hughes (CBS 4) who entertains the guests while the three celebrity pairs create inventive culinary masterpieces. The final results are judged by the evenings VIP guests based on three categories - appearance, taste and best use of ingredients. Over the course of the night, the cook-off spectators have their own competition in a large silent auction and enjoy a variety of appetizer and local brews. Due to the generous support of sponsors, 100% of the evenings proceeds goes directly to the programs supporting women.
At last year’s Cook-Off for a Cause, the Women’s Lighthouse Project raised enough money to train 28 women through their Sisterhood Series. The money raised was also able to enhance other programs offered that served 68 women in the Client Treatment Advocacy Program and 27 women in the Women in Corrections Program which all rely heavily on funding from the organization’s donors. The numbers of women living with HIV in Colorado is growing and many of them are without the proper support or healthcare needed to live a healthy life. The Women’s Lighthouse Project plays an important roll in filling that need; serving approximately 200 of these women.

“Our clients find comfort in knowing that the Women’s Lighthouse Project is consistently there for them and they are understood and share similar issues.” Said Behning. “We rely on the generous help of our supporters and this wonderful evening is a fun way for people to come out while supporting a cause that often gets overlooked.”
The Women’s Lighthouse Project was started over ten years ago on a shoe string budget when there were little resources for women dealing with HIV. Today, they serve over 200 women and are expanding in many new directions including outreach and training for the client’s partners. The Women’s Lighthouse Project’s mission is to respect, support, and empower women living with HIV / AIDS.
Last year, the Women’s Lighthouse Project raised $10,000 and hopes to increase that this year. The Gill Foundation has given a matching grant of $7,500 for all donations. Other sponsors include John Snow Incorporated, Flying Dog Brewery, Gilead Pharmaceuticals and Tibotec. To purchase tickets for Cook-Off for a Cause or to learn more about the Women’s Lighthouse Project, please visit www.WomensLightouseProject.org

Contact: Shannon Behning (303) 344-1878
                 Shannon@womenslighthouseproject.org
 

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