1,000 Cooks for the Cure

Susan G. Komen® and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) are partnering with KitchenAid to encourage anyone who enjoys cooking and entertaining to turn a summer gathering into a “party with a purpose” by hosting a Cook for the Cure party. The goal of this 1,000 Cooks for the Cure initiative is to enlist at least 1,000 cooks in the U.S. and Canada to host any type of get-together from July 19-28 and simply ask their guests to make a donation to Komen (United States residents) or the CBCF (Canada residents) in any amount to support the fight against breast cancer. 

 “Participating in this worthy cause is easy, and it’s a great reason to get together with family, friends or colleagues during peak summer entertaining season,” notes Beth Robinson, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. “Whether hosting a casual office party, barbecue, dessert sampling or multicourse dinner, the idea is to ask guests to bring nothing to the party but a donation in any amount they choose.” 

The 1,000 Cooks for the Cure initiative is part of the larger Cook for the Cure® program, an 11-year effort that has raised more than $11.3 million between the U.S. and Canada for the cause through the sale of pink products, celebrity chef auctions and grassroots fundraising events. Funds raised from the parties can be designated for either organizations’ national efforts or local breast cancer initiatives. 

Those interested in hosting a party are encouraged to visit CookfortheCure.com to register and obtain a unique host identification number. Registered hosts will be given access to an information kit that includes party ideas, recipes and donation gathering information. To help hosts connect with guests and others planning parties, KitchenAid will feature 1,000 Cooks for the Cure as an event on its U.S. Facebook page, Canada Facebook page and provide updates via its U.S. Twitter handle in the days leading up to the event. 

In 2013, KitchenAid will donate $450,000 or more to Komen through the Cook for the Cure® program to support the fight against breast cancer. Product sales will not affect this donation. KitchenAid will also donate $100,000 or more this year to CBCF through its Cook for the Cure® sponsorship and pink product sales. Recent years the program has earned two Gold Halo awards from the Cause Marketing Forum, and has been favorably covered by NBC Nightly News and other major media. Largely through a series of celebrity chef auctions for autographed KitchenAid products, the program has garnered the support of dozens of celebrity chefs, including Mario Batali, Paula Deen, Guy Fieri, Bobby Flay, Emeril Lagasse, Jacques Pépin, Martha Stewart and many others. 

I'm so honored to be a part of this initiative to help raise awareness to breast cancer and am hosting my own online fundraiser through Carrie's Experimental Kitchen. Everyone knows at least one person affected by this disease; whether it be a friend or family member that is either a cancer survivor or lost their battle. As many of you are aware, when I renovated my kitchen last summer, my appliance line of choice was KitchenAid; including a double wall oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, five burner gas stove top and wine refrigerator. It's been almost a year now and I couldn't be happier with the KitchenAid line of products. So when they invited me to take part in this initiative it just gave me one more reason to be an advocate of this generous company. If you were considering getting a new stand mixer or blender in your choice of two fashionable pink colors, now is the time! 

How Can I Help the Fight Against Breast Cancer?

1. Host a party between July 19-28, 2013
2. Purchase a KitchenAid Pink Product
3. Make a meal and share it on Pass the Plate
4. Donate through CEK's Cook for the Cure Page ID#12377

Thank you for your support!

About KitchenAid: 

Since the introduction of its legendary stand mixer in 1919 and first dishwasher in 1949, KitchenAid has built on the legacy of these icons to create a complete line of products designed for cooks. Today, the KitchenAid brand offers virtually every essential for the well-equipped kitchen with a collection that includes everything from countertop appliances to cookware, ranges to refrigerators, and whisks to wine cellars. Cook for the Cure® has raised over $9 million to date for Susan G. Komen® and $2.3 million to date for CBCF to help find cures for breast cancer. To learn why chefs choose KitchenAid for their homes more than any other brand*, visit KitchenAid.com (USA) and KitchenAid.ca (Canada). 

About Susan G. Komen®:

Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Suzy, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer. Today, Susan G. Komen® works to end breast cancer in the U.S. and throughout the world by investing more than $750 million in breast cancer research and $1.5 billion in community outreach programs over the past 30 years; providing funding to help low-income and uninsured women get screened and get treatment; advocating for cancer research and outreach programs; and working globally in more than 30 countries. Visit Komen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter. 

Cook for the Cure® is a registered trademark of Susan G. Komen. 

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation:

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation is the leading community–driven organization in Canada dedicated to creating a future without breast cancer. Our investments in innovative and relevant research and education have led to progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. Since 1986, we have been at the forefront of a nationwide movement supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community. Join us at www.cbcf.org. 

Cook for the Cure® is a registered trademark of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation. 

* Based on a 2012 survey, KitchenAid was found to be the home kitchen appliance brand chosen most often by members of the International Association of Culinary Professionals. 

*I was not compensated for this post. All opinions expressed are my own.