On November 9, the Windber Health Care Foundation Auxiliary held its 7th Showcase Chefs event at the Windber Community Building. Local chefs handed out samples of their dishes to more than 200 attendees, who then were asked to “tip” their favorites. In addition to tips, there was a 50/50 raffle and mystery envelope tree. The event was a huge success, raising more than $9,000, a record-breaking year, for hospital projects and equipment at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.
Since beginning in 2015, Showcase Chefs has brought in nearly $50,000. In the past, the hospital Auxiliary has funded projects that include hospital beds, a pool lift for patients in physical therapy, a smoothie maker for the cafeteria, an arm ergometer machine for HealthStyles Fitness Center, patient TVs in the Ambulatory Surgery Unit, a treatment table for physical therapy, and a variety of materials for the pediatric therapies program.
“We couldn’t have done it without the support of our volunteers, attendees, sponsors, and, of course, the local chefs! Smoke ‘Em Up BBQ earned the most tips for the evening making them the Showcase Chef. Our second and third place chefs were Tap the Keg and Fat Squirrel, respectively. Congratulations and thank you to all!” said Kim Oleksa Foundations/Development Administrator.
Other participating chefs and restaurants were Ace’s Banquets and Catering, Ancient Order of Hibernians, Anthony’s Restaurant, B&L Wine Cellars, Chili’s, Cookie Books & More, Eat’n Park, Galliker’s, The Gob Father, James Leigh Coffee Company, Judy’s Rolls for All Occasions, Rizzo’s Restaurant, Roots Kitchen, and Sweet George’s Kitchen.
Thank you to our event sponsors Oxford Development Company and American Eagle Screen Print & Embroidery. Special thanks to Ray’s Nurseries for donating beautiful mums for table décor and the Windber High School football team for helping with set up.
Thank you to the Windber Health Care Foundation Auxiliary Members for their hard work in putting together this fantastic event: Michelle Bobak, Sue Bombatch, Michelle Boyd, Marion Boyer, Dianna Briesmeister, Michelle Corle, Tanna Csikos, Leah Fetsko, Barb Gulick, Carrie Hinkle, Jessica Klosky, Jan Kotzan, Anita Lorek, Linda Malisko, Tresa McVicker, Stephanie Mihalic, Meghan Naughton, Susan Nicklow, Nancy Nosko, Amanda Prince, Natalie Samuel, Julie Sulosky, and Lauren Swick. To join the Auxiliary team and help us raise funds for hospital projects, please contact Kim Oleksa at 814-467-3705.
Pictured, L to R: Jodee Steffish of Tap the Keg, Josh and Leanne Korin of Smoke Em’ Up BBQ, and Susan Kroft of Fat Squirrel.
About CSSMCW
Founded in 1906, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber (CSSMCW) is an independent, non-profit acute care hospital in northern Somerset County, bordering Cambria County. The 54-bed hospital shares a campus and collaborates with Chan Soon-Shiong Institute of Molecular Medicine at Windber (CSSIMMW), a private, non-profit biomedical research center. With more than 450 employees, CSSMCW is the fourth largest employer in Somerset County. CSSMCW’s mission is to provide excellence in personalized, quality health care services through innovation, research and education in response to community needs. For more information visit www.windbercare.org.