Athens residents are offering up their homes this weekend to accommodate Ohio chefs and local foodies for the Athens Foundation’s second annual Key Event.
At the event — which will be held in Baker University Center Theatre on Sept. 15 — 170 scheduled participants will begin their evening by drawing a color-coded key upon entering the theater, which will determine their dinner destination.
Dinner attendees then randomly choose from 14 different houses, each with its own unique local chef.
While all are welcome to attend the event, including students, Susan Urano, executive director of the Athens Foundation, said she does not expect many to participate because it costs $100 per person.
“It is a great cause and we hope to meet or exceed our huge success from last year,” Urano said.
The event proved to be successful after raising more than $30,000 in 2011, Urano said.
“Last year we held the event to raise money for food security projects in the region and had lots of success,” Urano said. “This year the money raised is going to our grants and other projects we’re working on, though none in particular.”
In the 2011 fiscal year, the foundation earned about $461,000 in total revenue. The $30,000 profit from the Key Event supplied about 6 percent of the foundation’s total revenue that year.
The funding for the organization is built on endowments and donations from the community and donors, according to the foundation’s website.
In the past, the foundation has supported a variety of community organizations including Leadership Athens County, Athens Professionals for Philanthropy Fund, Women’s Fund and the Estate Planning Council.
Those who volunteered their house for the event are only responsible for setting the table and hosting, explained volunteer Kim Goldsberry.
“I’ll need to have the tables, dishes and flowers all ready to make it an inviting atmosphere,” Goldsberry said. “It will mainly be up to the chef how things work, so I will still be able to enjoy myself.”
Goldsberry expects up to 18 people at her house Saturday evening.
“The Athens Foundation is such a great cause and I’m really excited to help out this year,” she said. “The more we can do, the better.”
Dan Black, a physician at Holzer Clinic, is working as the head chef at his house with help from Ohio University’s executive chef, Matt Rapposelli, along the way.
“We’re doing something a little different this year because I’ll have another chef who isn’t a professional working with me,” Rapposelli said. “It will be a little unique compared to the other houses because it will be a collaborative effort.”
Prominent local chefs slated to attend include Bill Justice from Nine Tables, Kevin Hurst from Latitude 39 and Jon Lange from the OU Inn.
az346610@ohiou.edu
