Sixteenth annual 50 Men Who Can Cook event raises $300,000 for CSISD Education Foundation
Feb. 9, 2024–Approximately 1,700 community members, local businesses and CSISD staff gathered at the Brazos County Expo Complex for the College Station ISD Education Foundation’s sixteenth annual 50 Men Who Can Cook event on Feb. 7. The event raised approximately $300,000 to support CSISD schools through the CSISD Education Foundation.
The event, underwritten by Top Chef sponsor St. Joseph’s Health, featured 59 amateur cooking teams, or 133 “celebrity chefs,” including CSISD staff members and local businesses and organizations, dishing out sample-sized portions of appetizers, entrees, soups and desserts, all competing for the top prizes awarded at the conclusion of the festivities. Guests sampled food from the variety of culinary creations and showed their support by casting votes for their favorite foods.
"We are grateful to our 50 Men Who Can Cook celebrity chefs who come together to showcase their culinary skills and show passion for a good cause: our College Station ISD teachers and students," said Teresa Benden, CSISD Education Foundation Executive Director. "I always think we can't surpass the excellence of the previous year, but it keeps getting better and better thanks to our community support."
Guests donated during the event through a variety of activities including, playing Plinko, purchasing raffle tickets or mystery bags, and bidding on items at the silent auction.
Proceeds from the event from sponsorships, ticket sales and event activities will help fund impactful classroom projects, student scholarships, Senior Hall of Fame recognition, Chrissy’s Closet, staff awards and other educational programs.
The following are the crowd favorites from the sixteenth annual 50 Men Who Can Cook event:
BEST APPETIZER:
Winner
Jason Starkey, Evan Eike & Seth Smith, Letterman Title "Brisket Boudin"
Runner Up
David Espinosa, Mark Espinosa & Ryan Ullmann, A&M Consolidated Middle School "MEATzzarella Bombs"
2nd Runner Up
Blair Forester, Pebble Creek Elementary, "Smoked Thickles"
BEST SOUP/CHILI:
Winner
Robert LaTourette, CJ Havlik & Jay Phillips, Wellborn Middle School, "Big Kahuna Chili"
Runner Up
Anthony Fleitas, Jackson Bailey & Bret Wernert, Bartlett Cocke General Contractors, "Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo"
2nd Runner Up
Bryan Hanna, Jay Rudinger & Billy Hart, West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, P.C., "Tort-illa Soup"
BEST ENTREE:
Winner
Caleb DeLuna, Doug Fuentes & Brady Young, Southwood Valley Elementary, "Smoked Shotgun Shells"
Runner Up
Darin Paine, True Brown & Justin Lake, Ring of Fire BBQ, "Three Amigos Smoked Enchiladas"
2nd Runner Up
Josh Rhine, Eric Zylman & Stacy Abbott, College Station Middle School, "Knight Nation Sensation"
BEST DESSERT:
Winner
Rocco Grande & Tommy Newton, Oakwood Intermediate, "Oakwood Slam Dunks"
Runner Up
Andrew Naegar & Stephen Wright, Wright Naeger Dentistry, "Rock 'n' Cinnamon Roll"
2nd Runner Up
Billy Couch, Chris Perkins & Jim Bob Arnold, College Station Police Department, "Fat Granny's Bread Pudding"
BEST DECORATED BOOTH:
Winner
Chance Bloodworth, Zach Alston & Aaron Parker, Dailey Company, "Dailey Company Sheet Cake"
Runner Up
Josh Newton, Stan Jones & Blake Kopetsky, Dexter Insurance, "Gump Gumbo"
2nd Runner Up
Derek Halling & Doug Hahn, DH2 Culinary Initiatives, "Toes in the Sand Salsa"
ROOKIE AWARD:
Winner
Anthony Fleitas, Jackson Bailey & Bert Wernert, Barlett Cocke General Contractors, "Cajun Chicken & Sausage Gumbo"
Runner Up
Cody Welch & Anthony Voneiff, Avinext, "Birria Bombs"
2nd Runner Up
Bryan Hanna, Jay Rudinger & Billy Hart, West, Webb, Allbritton & Gentry, P.C., "Tort-illa Soup"
MOST TICKETS SOLD:
Winner
John Morgan, RAVA Construction
Runner Up
Kyle Ervin, CAPSHER Technology
Established in 1999, the College Station ISD Education Foundation is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. Tax-deductible gifts made to the foundation provide funds for opportunities above and beyond the normal operating budget of the school district which are not available through tax revenues. Its mission is to partner with the community to provide resources that inspire learning, enhance opportunities, and recognize the successes of students and teachers.
For more information, please visit givetokids.csisd.org or follow social media. Contact Teresa Benden, CSISD EF Director, at 979-694-5615 or [email protected].