On November 3, the Windber Health Care Foundation Auxiliary held its 6th Showcase Chefs event at the Windber Community Building, following a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19. 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 $7,500 for hospital projects and equipment at Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.
Since beginning in 2015, Showcase Chefs has brought in more than $40,000. 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! In the Mix Confections earned the most tips for the evening making them the Showcase Chef. Our second and third place chefs were Ace’s Banquets & Catering and Smoke ‘Em Up BBQ, respectively. Congratulations and thank you to all!” said Kim Oleksa Foundations/Development Administrator.
Other participating chefs and restaurants were Ancient Order of Hibernians, Anthony’s Restaurant, B&L Wine Cellars, The Boulevard Grill, Culinary Program at GJCTC, Eat’n Park, Flair of Country, Galliker’s, The Gob Father, The Johnstown Conference Center, Red Lobster, Rizzo’s Restaurant, St. Anthony of Padua Church, Stone Bridge Brewing Company, and Windber Wok.
Thank you to our event sponsors Oxford and Memorial Highway Chevrolet. Special thanks to our emcee Marty Radovanic, Slovenian Savings & Loan for donating drinks, Pisarski Farm in Summerhill for donating pumpkins 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. Thank you to Michelle Bobak, Michelle Boyd, Marion Boyer, Michelle Corle, Tanna Csikos, Barb Gulick, Carrie Hinkle, Jessica Klosky, Jan Kotzan, Anita Lorek, Linda Malisko, Stephanie Mihalic, Susan Nicklow, Nancy Nosko, Dianna Penrod, Amanda Prince, Natalie Samuel, and Julie Sulosky. 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: Candi Bracken of In the Mix Confections, Douglas Kimmel and Dustin Greene of Ace’s Banquets & Catering, Leanne and Josh Korin of Smoke Em’ Up BBQ.
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.