Confirmed at the beginning of July 2010, it has secured title sponsorship of the prestigious and international culinary charity drive with a contribution of R3-million. R2.4-million of the donation will be invested directly into the tour's Trust. The remaining R600 000 will be mobilised towards meeting operational expenses for the execution of the campaign, inclusive of administration, event management and more.
Joint convenors of the 2011 tour, Stephen Billingham, president of SACA and chef Martin Kobald past president of SACA, are looking forward to welcoming over 200 chefs from across the globe, to participate in feeding the nation.
Says Kobald, "Once again, South Africa takes the lead in the international culinary world with its commitment to raise R4-million to help alleviate starvation in southern Africa. We anticipate that the Bidvest World Chefs' Tour Against Hunger will prove to be the biggest fundraising event ever undertaken within the global chefs' fraternity. We feel hugely privileged to be supported by Bidvest, and thereby afforded the opportunity to invite chefs from around the world, to share their knowledge and compassion in the fight against hunger."
In addition to the cash injection, it is hoped that Bidvest will also contribute to the tour by way of necessary foodstuffs, equipment, transportation as well as printing requirements.
The hosting of the official gala dinners and culmination of the fundraising initiative will take place on 27 August 2011. Via satellite technology, organisers are planning simultaneous gala dinners to be served across multiple continents and different cities around the globe. This is to raise awareness levels surrounding hunger, as well as additional monies for the Trust.
After a visit to Operation Hunger in 1990, Dr Bill Gallagher, then president of SACA and continental director of WACS for Africa and the Middle East, decided that there was an enormous need to help alleviate hunger within South Africa. The first tour took place in 1993, when the most famous chefs in the world came to South Africa to help raise funds. Using their talent and knowledge, these invited chefs were asked to prepare a series of food festival demonstrations and make personal appearances across South Africa in aid of charity. Each of the 100-odd chefs paid his/her own way to South Africa coming from over 20 countries. A total of R500 000 was collected and presented to Operation Hunger to help aid the NGO's work.
In August 2003, the event was run again and through an invitation, extended to some 50 countries, it attracted 210 chefs from all corners of the world. Supported by Tiger Brands as the headline sponsor, the tour followed a similar format and raised R1.5-million for the two appointed charities, the African Feeding Scheme and Valley Trust.
"This gastronomic fundraising effort has become a symbol within the 92 member countries of WACS, which enjoys a membership base of four million caring chefs, similar to that of Doctors without Borders," says Dr Bill Gallagher, patron of the Tour and honorary life president of SACA.
Concludes Gallagher on the hosting of the simultaneous gala dinners around the world, "We will present two short DVDs that will offer a more comprehensive overview of what has been achieved previously by the World Chefs' Tour Against Hunger campaigns. It is also hoped that through this AV medium, we will be able to illustrate the enormous potential and opportunities for brand awareness for other participants."
The World Association of Chefs' Societies (WACS) has fully endorsed the tour and more information is on the website www.wacs2000.org.
