San Francisco, CA May 03, 2012 - On Wednesday, April 18th 2012, culinary events company, Parties That Cook®, hosted its most successful fundraiser to-date. More than one hundred guests attended the third annual “Cooking Up Success” for Women’s Initiative, a hands-on cooking party fundraiser held at The Ferry Building in San Francisco.
San Francisco event benefits women’s microenterprise non-profit to help low-income women start businesses.
San Francisco, CA May 03, 2012 - On Wednesday, April 18th 2012, culinary events company Parties That Cook®, hosted its most successful fundraiser to-date. More than one hundred guests attended the third annual “Cooking Up Success” for Women’s Initiative, a hands-on cooking party fundraiser held at The Ferry Building in San Francisco. The event raised $17,500 for Women’s Initiative for Self Employment, a non-profit organization that provides small business training to low-income women so that they can become economically self-sufficient. Proceeds will put 18 low-income women through the program, helping them launch their own businesses and create jobs in the Bay Area.
Parties That Cook Founder, Bibby Gignilliat, who serves on the Women’s Initiative Board of Directors, commented, “We are so glad to have been involved in such a successful fundraiser. Not only will the money raised benefit the 18 women put through Women’s Initiative programs, but the positive impact will be evident in our communities.”
During the event, guests learned about the blossoming businesses of six Women’s Initiative graduates. A “marketplace” showcased products by Adriana Lahl of Sal de Vida, Janis Callon of Community Spice Company, Kristina Basgen of Tina Produce, and Rosa Rodriguez of Sweets Collection. Fellow graduate Aurora Meneghello of Aurora Meneghello Productions was on hand as the evening’s professional photographer. Her shots of the event can be found here.
Near the end of the event, guests listened to a moving speech by Azalina Eusope, a Women’s Initiative graduate from Malaysia who found success with her catering services, cooking classes and line of Malaysian food products. Azalina announced that her line, Azalina’s, will be available nationally as of May 1st. She was recently featured in a Small Business Week article, and her story can be read here.
Nancy Sheppard, Chair of the Women’s Initiative Board of Directors, commented, “Hearing from an inspirational graduate that her line of gourmet Malaysian food products is going national on May 1st truly added a great buzz of excitement to the night of fun food, and provided a real life example of how Women’s Initiative Programs launch successful businesses and change lives.”
Parties That Cook’s group cooking model, typically reserved for corporate team building activities and private parties, provides a truly unique platform for fundraisers. Gignilliat concluded, “We’ve received so much positive feedback from everyone - from those who attended to those involved behind the scenes. This event has proven that cooking parties make wonderful fundraisers. It’s a fun night out where attendees really get to mingle, interact and even network for a good cause. It’s why I love what I do.”
About Parties That Cook
Parties That Cook stages deliciously fun cooking parties and corporate team building events in private homes and professional kitchens throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, including San Jose and Wine Country, Chicago, Seattle and Portland, OR. Founder & CEO, Bibby Gignilliat, pioneered the mobile cooking party concept in 1999, and extended the company’s hands-on, interactive culinary events to include a wide array of corporate team building events, cooking parties and cooking classes. For more information on Parties That Cook, please visit http://www.PartiesThatCook.com or call 1-888-907-2665.
About Women's Initiative for Self Employment
Women's Initiative for Self Employment provides high-potential, low-income women with the training, funding and ongoing support to start their own businesses and become financially self-sufficient. The women who go through the program significantly increase their income and assets while launching businesses, creating jobs and stimulating the local economy. In 2011 alone, recent graduates created and retained 5,489 jobs! Women’s Initiative has five offices and 18 training locations throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, and is expanding to Chicago and New York. http://www.WomensInitiative.org.
###