The housewares industry came together to raise $1 million during the 2023 Housewares Cares Charity Gala presented by the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) on Monday, March 6. Proceeds from the event, held at the Four Seasons Chicago, benefited the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), the HCF’s legacy charity, and the James Beard Foundation, the gala’s partner as well as Winning With Wyatt and the V Foundation.
Since the first gala in 1998, HCF has raised more than $56 million and has been credited with donating more than $32 million to BCRF.
Held annually in conjunction with The Inspired Home Show, this year’s gala honored Select Brands’ founder and president William Endres with the Lifetime Achievement Award; Bloomingdale’s executive vice president and GMM of Menswear, Kids, The Home Store and Cosmetics Daniel Leppo with the Humanitarian of the Year Award; and The Home Edit co-founder Clea Shearer with the Humanitarian of the Year Award. The philosophy and mission of the nonprofit HCF is, in the spirit of goodwill, to raise funds annually for designated charities and help unite and promote the philanthropic image of the housewares industry. Honorees are selected for their humanitarian support and exceptional leadership.
The event offered 350 attendees dinner and a cocktail reception featuring three tasting stations hosted by James Beard Foundation chefs including Damarr Brown, Beverly Kim and Greg Wade.
The evening, emceed by QVC television personality David Venable, included live auctions, where guests bid on an extraordinary collection of relaxing get-aways, dinners and unparalleled culinary experiences. Offerings included a private dinner with William Lauder at Le Bernardin in New York City; a week in Provence, France; tickets to the James Beard Media Awards and to the James Beard Restaurant & Chef Awards in Chicago; tickets to the Sonoma Epicurean event; a private in-home dinner by Chef Daniel Green; a custom Canali suit package; and three luxury housewares surprise packages.
For more information about the Housewares Charity Foundation, its honorees and its charities, please visit HousewaresCharity.org.
