BNtheMix.com/ November 7, 2017 – Celebrity guests united at last night’s Cooking Live! New York presented by Oath to raise awareness of the financial burden of cancer. This overlooked side of cancer impacts millions of patients nationwide. It leads to the inability to pay everyday bills – which can result in homelessness – and directly stands in the way of a patient’s chances of survival.
Created by celebrity chef Ming Tsai, the fundraiser brought Worst Cooks in America’s Anne Burrell, Chopped’s Amanda Freitag and The Chew’s Carla Hall together to prepare a five-course meal live in the center of the Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park ballroom. Special guest Bryant Gumbel joined in as a sous-chef, working alongside Ming to prepare the first course as well as a custom cocktail from sponsor Patrón Tequila.
“Cancer on its own turns your life upside down. I couldn’t imagine dealing with all of that and not having the money to pay for necessities,” says Ming Tsai. “I’m so grateful for my incredible chef friends, who go above and beyond to help make Cooking Live! so successful.”
Throughout the event, several families battling cancer shared their journey and the dangerous financial toll cancer has taken. Presenting sponsor Oath, subsidiary of Verizon and global media and technology leader, live streamed the event for a global audience across several of their brands, including Yahoo, HuffPost and BUILD. Visit BUILDSeries.com to experience this incredible evening.
“We help families who are unable to afford basic needs – housing, food, transportation – because cancer forces them to put careers on hold while they care for their sick child,” says Family Reach CEO Carla Tardif. “Few people today have heard of this issue. Cooking Live! New York serves as a platform to raise awareness, but also gives some of these families a chance to enjoy a fun night out.”
Funds from Cooking Live! New York will provide families fighting cancer with the resources they need to keep a roof over their heads, put food on the table and maintain access to treatment. This critical support improves adherence and a patient’s chances of overcoming cancer.
“It’s more important than ever today to support one another in times of need. At Oath, we lead with our values, and that means responding to the call to action to make a positive impact on communities around the world,” says Sara Link, Head of Oath for Good. “As the presenting sponsor of Cooking Live! New York, we’re helping Family Reach raise awareness of this critical issue.”
The Cooking Live! event series has raised more than $4 million and spanned cities across the country including San Francisco, Denver, Yellowstone, Chicago, Boston and New York.