Third Annual Chefs For Kids' Cancer Benefit Set

Cookies For Kids’ Cancer will host its third annual Chefs For Kids’ Cancer benefit on Tuesday, February 23, at Metropolitan West in New York City. All proceeds will benefit research to cure childhood cancer.

Chefs Dan Kluger, James Kent, Marc Murphy and Marc Forgione will serve as culinary co-chairs and Christina Tosi will be the dessert chair for the evening.

The five chefs are friends of Gretchen and Larry Witt, parents of Liam Witt, who is the inspiration behind the fundraising event and organization. Nine years ago, Liam’s courageous journey with the disease began, and his dreams of someday becoming a chef were tragically cut short in 2011 after a four-year battle with cancer.

The 2015 gala raised more than $1.1 million, which has already funded research to find better treatments against the number one disease killer of children in the U.S. This year’s event will bring together 27 award-winning chefs and New York City’s top mixologists to support this cause. 

"I look forward to this event all year. Its intimate atmosphere with many of my fellow chefs cooking side-by-side is so true to the heart of the organization— all about family, support and joy," said Kluger. "It makes me incredibly happy to see so many of these talented chefs as excited and passionate as I am about supporting pediatric cancer research and ultimately helping children realize their dreams." 

In addition, chef Mario Batali, who was a friend of Liam and a major supporter of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, will serve as the evening’s host.

Founded in 2008, Cookies for Kids’ Cancer has granted more than $9 million to date, funding six-dozen research projects, including 26 that are now treatments available for children battling cancer today.