Women Cookin’ For The Arts

From power suits to aprons: Greater Cleveland women leaders in business, community heat things up for Women Cookin’ for the Arts.

Oct. 6, 2010 (Cleveland, OH) – Women are moving up in the American workforce —and quickly.  A recent report revealed that women surpassed their male counterparts in earning doctoral degrees from U.S. universities last year.

Yet, even with those notable accomplishments, women leaders of Northeast Ohio have proven they can earn in a power suit or dawn an apron and burn – in the kitchen – especially if it’s for a worthy cause.

Greater Cleveland’s leading ladies will once again share their other skills for the fifth annual Women Cookin’ for the Arts, a fundraiser sponsored by The Cleveland Clinic for Cleveland ethnic arts nonprofit group Sankofa Fine Art Plus.

Several notable women will offer up their culinary specialties for hungry art lovers at the event, held from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, 1950 Richmond Rd., Lyndhurst (former TRW facility).  True, the chefs will be serving their specialties for a good cause, but that competitive edge which makes them successful in the workplace will come through, as they’ll also be ‘burning’ to beat out fellow chefs for votes of approval from attendees and guest judges who will pick a winner in each category.

The event has grown in popularity and attendance since it was initially conceived, and has become a fun-filled evening of not only good food, but good company, good music and an overall good time, said Donna Flynt, president of the Sankofa Board of Directors.

“When we held our first Women Cookin’ for the Arts, it was well-received, but we were only hopeful that it would continue as a unique fundraiser event for Sankofa,” Flynt said.  “With live music, prizes, a fun atmosphere and the friendly competition among the chefs, people can’t wait to come back the next year.

“I dare say Women Cookin’ for the Arts is becoming one of Cleveland’s social events of the year.”

One leading woman to sign up as a chef so far is Sen. Shirley A. Smith, Ohio’s 21st Senate District representative. More women are still needed to show their culinary skills for the fundraiser, which supports Sankofa’s year-round programming and activities, including the popular Cleveland Fine Art Expo, Northeast Ohio’s largest multi-cultural visual and performing arts event for the last 10 years.  Registration is still open for those who want to cook their special desserts, main dishes, vegetable dishes, salad, or rice or pasta dishes.

Sankofa is repeating a popular recent addition to the event by inviting special celebrity chefs to offer cooking demonstrations and tips.  Last year’s guest chef was Loretta Paganini, the founder of the prestigious Loretta Paganini School of Cooking known for her “Tips from the Kitchen” seen on WKYC-Channel 3.

The evening will again feature lead sponsor Cleveland Clinic’s Executive Chef Jim Perko offering healthy cooking demonstrations. New guests this year are The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association and Kaiser Permanente, who will also provide healthy cooking tips.

Tickets for the event are $45 for individual admission and $100 for corporate admission.  For tickets or to sign up as a chef, call (216) 541-ARTS (2787) or visit www.sankofafineartplus.org.

Sankofa Fine Art Plus is a nonprofit community arts organization that develops and advocates for ethnic artists and presents ethnic art as a credible and meaningful art form through community education and collaboration.