California farmers and chefs will celebrate the 2015 Special Olympics World Games (LA2015) by feeding more than 5,000 family members of competing World Games athletes and their special guests at a giant “Picnic in the Park” reception, presented by the County of Los Angeles in downtown Los Angeles at Grand Park on Tuesday, July 28 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm PST. This invitation-only event will feature entertainment and presentations by the County and City of Los Angeles and local dignitaries.
Eleven celebrated California chefs are pairing with California farmers who are donating their time and talent to support this historic event paying tribute to the family members of the competing athletes. A distinguishing characteristic of the Special Olympics World Games is the Families Program, which honors the family members of the competing athletes to recognize their support, encouragement, dedication and sacrifice in helping their athletes reach the pinnacle of competition in the 2015 World Games.
California chefs Suzanne Goin (Lucques, AOC, Tavern), Neal Fraser (Redbird, BLD, ICDC, Fritzi Dog), Susan Feniger(Border Grill), Brian Dunsmoor (The Hatchet Hall), Bruce Kalman (Union), Sal Marino (Il Grano), Nick Shipp(Upper West),Tim Kilcoyne (Scratch), Corina Weibel (Canele), Valerie Gordon (Valerie Confections) and Jason Prendergast (Tender Greens), will be paired with California farmers including Weiser Family Farm, McGrath Family Farms, Tamai Farms, Tutti Frutti Farm, Coleman Family Farm, Windrose Farm, J.J.’s Lone Daughter Ranch, Drake Family Farm, Roan Mills, Peter Schaner Farm and Valdivia Farm to offer tastes of California’s best seasonal produce. The Santa Monica Farmers Market, a well-known location where chefs and farmers meet each week, is helping to organize the farmer/chef tasting portion of the families’ reception.
“We are so grateful to the County of Los Angeles and these renowned chefs and farms for their support of this endeavor as we celebrate the family members of the 6,500 athletes that will compete in these World Games,” said Jeff Carr, Chief Operating Officer of LA2015, the World Games Organizing Committee. “We look forward to showcasing the outstanding restaurants and businesses that make Los Angeles, and this state, such a world-class destination. We also appreciate the motion being put forward by Supervisor Don Knabe and its overwhelming support by all Los Angeles County Supervisors to make this event possible.”
Also, in a first-time collaboration, LA Kitchen and its Empower LA Initiative, which provides job training, mentoring and a career path to youth and adults will inaugurate their new Highland Park kitchen by having food worker trainees and volunteers prepare a summer fruit salad for over 5,000 people, using donated produce collected by Food Forward, the local non-profit produce recovery organization that gleans produce from farmers markets, backyards, and the wholesale produce market. The reception will also feature a picnic style boxed meal to add to the “Picnic in the Park” feel. To sweeten the experience, Sprinkles Cupcakes will contribute more than 2,000 cupcakes to the event and local favoriteMabel’s will provide samples of their famous chicken and waffles.
The picnic follows a spectacular Opening Ceremony at the Los Angeles Coliseum on July 25th, which will be broadcast to the world on ESPN and officially open the Games. Eight days of competition will follow as Special Olympics athletes with intellectual disabilities demonstrate their extraordinary talents in 25 sports competitions at venues throughout the Los Angeles area.
To learn more about the LA2015 World Games and to purchase tickets to Opening Ceremony on July 25, visitwww.LA2015.org.
