"charitable organizations" news and stories

If you follow the goings-on of the food blogging world (which, we assume, you do, since you're here with us at Slashfood!), then you know about Menu for Hope, a now-annual "virtual" fundraising auction.

Now, if you don't know about Menu for Hope, well listen up! For the past two years, food blogger Chez Pim has headed this campaign to raise money for charitable organizations, with the help of food bloggers, around the world. This year, the proceeds from the Menu for Hope program will benefit the UN World Food Programme. Food bloggers, restaurateurs, chefs, authors, and good-hearted people have donated all kinds of things -- everything from cookbooks to a coffee date with chef Thomas Keller. The sampling above is a mere taste of the kinds of things that are up for auction. (You can click on any of the individual items to see what I have to say.)

If you'd like to participate, head on over to the post on Chez Pim to check out the offering of prizes, figure out how to donate, and get ready to part with $10. That's small change to you, but to someone else, it's big.

If you're in the Bay area, or even within reasonable traveling distance of San Francisco (does six hours from LA count as "reasonable?!?"), you are very lucky. On Thursday, June 1, 2006, the San Francisco Bay Area Chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association is hosting a scholarship benefit called East West Eats. 

Even if you're not familiar with the AAJA, the event itself is worth consideration from a food lover's perspective. It takes place at the Ferry Building, San Francisco's amazing public marketplace (which we recently visited and fell in love with). Foods will feature Charles Phan of the Slanted Door, among other Bay Area chefs: Robert Lam of Butterfly, Hung Le of Three Seasons, Peter Pahk of Silverado, Kirk Webber of CAFE KaTi, and Chris Yeo of Sraits.

Online registration for the $100 tickets will close this Thursday, May 25, 2006.