Signature Chefs

Feeding
Motherhood

Madigan, Rainer
[email protected] | (504) 264-9288 [email protected] Madigan, Rainer

Thank you for supporting
Signature Chefs Auction - New Orleans

DATE: Friday, October 26, 2018  |  TIME: 6 p.m.
LOCATION: Omni Royal Orleans Hotel
ADDRESS: 621 St Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70130
 

For more information, please contact Rainer Madigan at 504.264.9288.

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All March of Dimes Signature Chefs events will be held virtually this year. While we may not be together in person, we rely on your continued support to provide innovative programs and services for moms, moms-to-be and babies who may be at a greater risk of becoming sick and not receiving proper or equitable care.

event description image

Event description

The chefs, volunteers and guests who make up our Signature Chefs Events community are coming together in new, innovative ways to suport moms and babies this year.

We are following state mandated guidelines in response to COVID-19 and will not have an in-person event this year. So, we are preparing an exciting, new Virtual Gala for your 2020 March of Dimes Signature Chefs Auction experience!

We need your help now more than ever. Your support funds:

  • COVID-19 interventions and support for moms and babies
  • Programs that promote health equity for moms and babies and directly combat racial disparities in maternal and child health
  • Free virtual NICU support program for families
  • Virtual prenatal programs for moms-to-be
  • Educational programs, including live Facebook panel discussions, to get info into the hands of moms and families
  • Necessary supplies for expectant mothers including blood pressure cuffs and masks and so much more!

Support the mission

Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, and 1 million will die before their first birthday. Your gift helps the March of Dimes fund research, education, advocacy and programs that help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Make a Contribution

Become a sponsor

Every year, 15 million babies are born prematurely worldwide, and 1 million will die before their first birthday. Your gift helps the March of Dimes fund research, education, advocacy and programs that help more moms have full-term pregnancies and healthy babies.

Local Contact Person, Region
[email protected] | Phone # Contact Us

EVENT DETAILS

Join us for the 2018 New Orleans Signature Chefs Auction, an annual gathering of New Orlean's finest culinary talent in support of March of Dimes. This year's event marks the 80th anniversary for March of Dimes, and we are celebrating at Omni Royal Orleans, home of our Lead Chef, Tom Wolfe. The Signature Chefs Auction is a high profile black-tie gala that pays tribute to the culinary excellence of our prominent chefs, while raising money to improve the health of all moms and babies. From your arrival at the event you will enjoy the chance to taste from the chef's creations for a 90-minute tasting experience before taking your seats for the Live Auction and Fund the Mission. Enjoy the night with your friends, while you bid on our unique packages and raise your paddle and give generously to save babies. End the night dancing knowing you gave Moms and babies a chance at a healthy start!

EVENT LEADERSHIP

We are honored to have Karen Eastman, Hour Blast owner and founder, as this year's event chair.  Karen and her husband Perry, are parents to 4 year old Perry and 1 year old Mary Bendall.  Karen became involved with the March of Dimes after the loss of her first child Mae and is a member of the March of Dimes Board of Directors.
Thanks to the leadership of our volunteer chairs and committees we are honored to present the Signature Chefs event.  Through months of support these volunteers have taken the event to new heights. The March of Dimes and the families we support are grateful for the generous team who make this evening possible. 

Event Chair: Karen Eastman
Lead Chef: Chef Tom Wolfe; Rib Room at Omni Royal Orleans
Event Committee:
Meg Baldwin
Amy Farnsworth
Jill Fitzpatrick
Melissa Fuselier
Courtney Garrett
Kelly Grace
Katye Irwin
Holt Kolb
Marley LeBourgeois
Marti McEnery
Ashby Navarro
Kristin Van Hook Moore
Carter Perrilliat
Paige Prechter
Mary Martin Roth
Kara Schonberg
Diana Stokes
Lauren Wakeman

Emcee:

MEET OUR 2018 LEAD CHEF

We are excited to have Chef Tom Wolfe as this year's Lead Chef for our Signature Chefs Auction.
He will bring great leadership and the recruitment of the finest chefs New Orleans has to offer.
Thank you, Chef Tom!
 
Chef Tom wolfe is the Executive Chef at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, which is home to The Rib Room. Chef Wolfe’s passion for creating a matchless dining experience unique to his style and culinary heritage is about the customer who catches sight of the vision, makes the connections and leaves the table with a different culinary insight whether the guest is a gourmand or novice.  To this end, Wolfe views his domain from kitchen to table with a critical eye, but never loses sight of those early Southern roots and the fundamentals of Southern hospitality. When he is not in the kitchen, Chef Wolfe enjoys spending time with his wife, Tracy, and their two daughters, Madison and Megan; and serving as Chef Chair for the March of Dimes.

CULINARY EXCELLENCE

The Signature Chefs participating in the event, is what makes this event so amazing. Nowhere else can you have the best in culinary, all in one evening! A HUGE thank you to this year's Lead Chef, Tom Wolfe, Executive Chef at Omni Royal Orleans. Our chefs are artists, innovators and philanthropists, and we look forward to sharing their talents at the event. *Check back for updates

           Lead Chef
          Tom Wolfe

Omni Royal Orleans

               Chef
      Thorsten Leighty

Marriott Hotel New Orleans

                 Chef
        Gregory Rosary Sr.

Arnaud's Restaurant
Dish:
Gulf Shrimp with early fall corn maque choux and garlic crostini

               Chef
           Brack May

Cowbell

                Chef
            Mike Lena

Parkway Bakery and Tavern
 

                Chef
         Aaron Burgau

Patois
 

       Chef William Morrissette

Dickie Brennan and Company
 

                Chef
        Brad McGehee

Blue Line Sandwich Company
 

               Chef
        Chris Montero

Napoleon House

                  Chef
          David Whitmore

Jack Rose

                   Chef
              Rob Faust

               Chef
 Stormin Norman Conerly

Acme Oyster House

BECOME A SPONSOR

Join us for this Evening of Giving, and become a sponsor for this exciting event. With your support, we can surpass our goal! The 2018 New Orleans Signature Chefs Auction will change lives! Through partnerships with companies, organizations and individuals, the March of Dimes is able to create unique moments for your clients, vendors and leadership teams. They participate in an exclusive dining event while supporting a critical cause. Sponsorship opportunities are available at a variety of levels for our Signature Chefs events, providing you with brand recognition, civic engagement and an exclusive client entertainment opportunity within the event. We look forward to working with you to discuss your partnership with the March of Dimes. Please contact Rainer Madigan at (504) 264-9288.

SUPPORT THE MISSION

The Gilbert Family

Our story began with a normal pregnancy. We were nervous to become parents, but so ready to take on this new challenge. 8 months into my pregnancy, I started to feel what I chalked up to be normal third trimester aches and pains. That night my water broke and went quickly to the hospital.
 
Doctors planned to administer steroids to help mature the baby's lungs and put me on bed rest for at least another week. At that point, 34 weeks gestation they would likely deliver our baby. I received a first dose of steroids that night and early the next morning the pain in my back became unbearable. I was in labor and was rushed into the operating room. A quick 10 minutes later and our sweet William James was born crying!
 
I saw him for the first time and had prepared myself to see a tiny baby. He was actually pretty big at over 5 pounds. William was quickly sent to the NICU where he was on oxygen for 5 days. He spent time in the NICU learning to eat and twenty days after he was born, we were finally able to take our son home!
 
We appreciate the resources offered by the March of Dimes now more than ever as we prepare for the arrival of our second child. We have researched our options and discussed them with my doctor so that we can make the best decisions to prevent another premature delivery. I have started weekly progesterone injections and doctors are monitoring my pregnancy closely.  Because of the efforts of the March of Dimes, we now have a thriving toddler and feel prepared for my second pregnancy. We are hoping for a full-term delivery. March of Dimes tireless research, education, advocacy, and community involvement have made a tremendous difference in our lives.
 
James, William and I are honored to be chosen as Ambassadors for the New Orleans March of Dimes Signature chefs Auction this year. After what we experienced with William’s birth, we feel compelled to fundraise for the March of Dimes so it can continue to promote healthy moms and babies for years to come.
 
With Appreciation,
The Gilbert Family

Every year more than 15 million babies are born prematurely; a million will die before their first birthday as a result. With your gift at Signature Chefs to the March of Dimes, you can help to fund the research, education, and support to ensure more babies celebrate their birthday.
The March of Dimes is dedicated to giving every baby a healthy start in life. The key ingredient is you. Help support our mission to further our cause. To help fund the mission of fighting for the health of all Moms and babies, you can follow the "Help Fund the Mission" button at the top of the page to give. You may also contact Rainer Madigan, with the March of Dimes office, 504-264-9288, for assistance.



 

MUSICAL ENTERTAINMENT

Enjoy the nights musical entertainment by Baton Rouge native, T-Ray, The Violinist, while visiting Chef Tables.
Baton Rouge, LA native T-Ray the Violinist has been stringing together perfection for what seems to be the foundation of a legendary career. T-Ray began playing the violin at the tender age of 8 and later picked up the trumpet in middle school, but quickly found his way back to the violin in high school after being inspired by contemporary violinist Michael Ward.
Consistently performing, T-Ray quickly learned that when you leave it all on the stage, encores and more are eminent. Juggling teaching and performing rapidly became too much, as T-Ray’s fan base continued to grow. In May of 2014, the multi-genre violinist made the decision to become a full time artist on a mission to make his dreams a reality.

Our Sponsors

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View our updated event acknowledgements and waivers here.

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