The nonprofit has scheduled this year’s event for October 6 and expects to raise $300,000.
The Vicente Ferrer Foundation USA (VFF USA) has announced its annual Recipe for Empowerment event that will be held on October 6 from 7 p.m. till 11 p.m. The venue for the event will be announced in a few weeks.
The event will host top chefs from Spain, India, and the US to showcase the interconnectedness cuisines from different countries. It would feature Jaleo, La Boqueria, Rasika, Bombay Club, and the Kitchen a Blue Creek, among others.
“This year we hope to raise $300,000. Last year we raised almost $100,000, but it was also our first year in the US, we know with the support of amazing chefs and the community who has helped us launch in the US that we can continue to grow and do more to help empower rural communities,” Angelina Klouthis, executive director of VFF USA, told the American Bazaar.
In 2016, the nonprofit hosted its first fundraiser and more than 350 people attended. The success of the event encouraged them to make it an annual fundraising event. “Previously, the event was held at the Former Residence of the Spanish Ambassador, but this year we anticipate a much larger crowd and have outgrown the space,” Klouthis said.
The funds raised last year were spent alleviating the conditions of more than 300 victims of human trafficking and domestic violence in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. This year, however, the organization plans to develop infrastructure to address the water scarcity in the Indian state. “All funds raised from this event will be sent to India to help with some specific projects,” Klouthis said. “We will support rural farmers in building drip irrigation systems and check dams, build a community school, and help provide bikes for students so they can use them as a way to get to school to name a few of our key projects.”
This year’s ticket costs $1,000 for the twelve angel investors; otherwise, the Early Bird Special costs $100.
Travel for Change initiative.
As one of its initiatives to espouse the development of rural Andhra Pradesh, VFF USA regularly organizes free tours to the state. These are for travelers who are visiting for business or vacation purposes; on the sides, the organization encourages people to visit Anantapur in south India and spend some time with the rural communities. It arranges a free stay, meals, and commutation to the surrounding areas. The stay can be of few days or a couple of weeks, depending upon the convenience of the traveler. “We currently have 2 Georgetown [University] students traveling with us in India,” Klouthis added.
The organization was set up by Vicente Ferrer, a former priest, who hailed from Spain, in 1969. It has been working it has been in the southeastern state of Andhra Pradesh since then.