Thank you for supporting
Signature Chefs Auction - Washington, D.C.

Moms and babies need you now more than ever.
 
The chefs, volunteers and guests who make up our Signature Chefs Auction community are coming together in new, innovative ways to support moms and babies this year.
 
Data show that the U.S. remains among the most dangerous developed nations in the world for childbirth. Over 700 women die each year from pregnancy-related causes, and the CDC reports that 60 percent are preventable. The preterm birth rate is on the rise. Two babies die every hour in the United States. By joining our Signature Chefs community you are making a big difference. 
 
Your support of March of Dimes helps fund:

• Free virtual NICU support program for families
• Virtual prenatal programs for moms-to-be
• 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
• 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!

Learn more about how we are coming together in new and exciting ways in 2021.  We will update this page as we finalize our plans.  We hope you reach out directly! Contact Kate Leib at [email protected] for more information.
 


Click here to view sponsorship opportunities.
 

What sets Chef Matt apart from others in his field is his consistent passion for cuisine, hospitality and all things indulgent. His obsession started at an early age. Growing up in Houston, Chef Matt and his family would scour all corners of the city in search of traditional tex mex and fresh tortillas, travel miles for the best new BBQ spot, taste, explore, and fall in love with the vibrant and diverse ethnic food scene, so ubiquitous in this southern town. During semi-annual trips to Detroit , he was always the first of his cousins to assist his grandma with preparing cookies and pies for holiday celebrations. This led to an enthusiastic enrollment at Johnson & Wales University in Miami.
After doing the industry rounds in some of the best restaurants in South Beach, in 2009, he travelled to Singapore as the opening Executive Chef of Krish. It was at Krish that Chef Matt began making a name for himself in the kitchen, being named by Time as “The Country's Hottest Chef".
With a short stint at Minibar by Jose Andres, Chef Matt settled in at Brasserie Beck as the Executive Sous Chef in 2011, working with Chefs Robert Wiedmaier and Brian McBride. Late 2012 took him to the historic Occidental Grill & Seafood as Chef de Cuisine. With him he brought a reenergized menu that utilized seasonal ingredients and supported regional purveyors and watermen. After his time at The Occidental, Chef Matt accepted the challenge of opening City Perch in Bethesda as Executive Chef. His commitment to supporting local farms and vendors elevated to new heights. Weekly, he would purchase produce, dairy, and meats directly from local farmers markets and small businesses.
In 2015, Zagat named Chef Matt in its “Top 30 under 30 listing”. Chef Matt works tirelessly to positively influence the Washington, DC area through his continuous support of numerous charities and not-for-profits, such as the Foundation to Eradicate Duchenne , Charity off the Hook, No Kid Hungry (Share Our Strength) and March of Dimes.
 

Andra Johnson got her start in the restaurant business like many teenagers – she needed a job to earn enough money to buy her next pair of cool tennis shoes. A local chain restaurant in Rockville gave her a break. Soon she was bussing, then hosting and before she knew it she had caught the restaurant bug. She headed to DC and became an accomplished barista and bartender with Mayorga Coffee and opened a franchise location where she was the GM and Events Coordinator. From there she moved to a bustling neighborhood restaurant, Open City, where she was a Managing Server for 4 years and was then promoted to AGM at The Diner, another restaurant in the Constantine Stavropoulos group. The Diner prompted a deeper interest in fine dining and AJ had to figure out the right establishment to help her make the move – one that would appreciate her love of great service and fine dining as well as her love of tattoos. She wound up first at Eola on P Street, a Dan Singhofen restaurant, then joined the opening staff of Le Diplomate, a Stephen Starr restaurant, and finally made her way into the Robert Weidmaier restaurant group as AGM and wine director of Mussel Bar & Grille Bethesda.  In 2014, Andra jumped at the chance to work with Tony Brown and Gene Alexeyev at a new neighborhood restaurant, Macon Bistro & Larder, where she later became the GM, Beverage Director, and managing partner.  In 2018, Andra also became a co-founder of DMV Black Restaurant Week.  Currently, Andra is the Bar Director at Serenata where she renews her commitment to providing exemplary service and thoughtful cocktails each day.  Her forthcoming book, 'White Plates, Black Faces', is set for release this fall and continues her work telling the stories of people of color in the restaurant industry.  Andra attributes much of her success to the work ethic, accountability, and community imparted to her from her mother and sister, both of whom are a big part of Andra's life.  to Andra's credit, she has taken those lessons and passed them along to the bartenders and hospitality professionals she works with and mentors.

Nearly half a million babies in the U.S. are born prematurely or with birth defects each year.  Premature birth and its complications are the largest contributors to infant death in the United States and globally.  Fund the Mission gifts are 100% tax deductible and direct contributions to help the March of Dimes advocate for policies that prioritize the health of moms and babies, fund scientific research at our Prematurity Research Centers, and provide resources and programs to help moms before, during and after pregnancy.  During the program there will be an opportunity to make a Fund The Mission donation. Please join the March of Dimes in the fight for healthy moms and strong babies.