The housewares industry came together to raise $1 million during the 2024 Housewares Cares Charity Gala presented by the Housewares Charity Foundation (HCF) on Monday, March 18. Proceeds from the event, held at the Four Seasons Chicago and celebrating its 25th anniversary, benefited the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF), HCF’s legacy charity, as well as the James Beard Foundation, Feeding America and The Jimmy Fund.
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 Kristen Stevens, GMM/vice president at QVC with the Humanitarian of the Year Award and Herb Landsman, executive vice president (retired) at The TJX Companies, Inc., with the Lifetime Humanitarian 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 sold-out event offered 400 attendees dinner and a cocktail reception featuring tasting stations hosted by James Beard all-star chefs Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill and a James Beard Award winner; Lamar Moore of Bronzeville Winery and a James Beard Foundation Chef Bootcamp alum; and Sarah Grueneberg of Monteverde Restaurant and Pastificio and a James Beard Award winner.
The evening, emceed by QVC program host David Venable, included live auctions, where guests bid on an extraordinary collection of relaxing get-aways, dinners and unparalleled culinary experiences. Offerings included a golf outing with Herb Landsman; QVC-hosted dinner experience on an actual QVC set with Kristen Stevens and Sandra Lee; three-night stay at Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C.; a private dinner with William Lauder and former NFL superstar Jerome Bettis at Le Bernardin in New York City; a James Beard package including tickets to the James Beard Media Awards, the James Beard Restaurant & Chef Awards and Award Weekend activities in Chicago; a Baha Mar Bahamas resort get-away with Chef Geoffrey Zakarian; and Cache for a Cause product packages.
For more information about the Housewares Charity Foundation, its honorees and its charities, please visit HousewaresCharity.org.