13th Annual Taste of the Browns September 12, 2011

Celebrating 13 years of tackling hunger for Northeast Ohio families, Taste of the Browns Celebrity Dinner returns to Cleveland Browns Stadium on Monday, Sept. 12, 2011 to benefit the Cleveland Foodbank, the area’s largest hunger relief organization. The event is the largest annual fundraiser for the organization.

The Cleveland Browns and Northeast Ohio's most talented chefs will team up with the Foodbank to raise awareness and funds for hungry families, all while celebrating local culinary talent. With the more than $120,000 raised at the 2010 event, the Foodbank was able to distribute nearly half a million meals to agencies in six counties. For every dollar donated, the Cleveland Foodbank can provide enough food for four nutritious meals.

"With more than 33 million pounds of food delivered to our member agencies just last year, the need for hunger relief services continues to rise as people are still trying to overcome the current economic downturn," said Anne Goodman, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foodbank. "There are many people living on the edge and too often having to go without food, which is why our efforts at Taste of the Browns are even more critical."

This year’s fundraiser features more than 25 food and beverage stations with culinary creations from the area’s most popular restaurants, such as AMP 150, Fahrenheit, Momocho, Pier W and Zack Bruell’s restaurants, including Chinato, L’Albatros, Parallax and Table 45. Attendees also will have the opportunity to meet and mingle with Cleveland Browns alumni and current players, as well as, bid on exclusive silent auction items.

Honorary Co-Chairs of the event are former Cleveland Browns Defensive Lineman Al “Bubba” Baker and current Cleveland Browns Offensive Lineman Joe Thomas. The evening also would not be complete without Baker’s sought-after raffle prize, which is a catered tailgate party for 30 people from his Bubba Q’s restaurant personally delivered by him. The raffle costs $5 for one ticket or $25 for an arm’s length of tickets.

“We are excited to work together again with the Cleveland Browns to raise money for Northeast Ohio families and residents in need, and to taste all the wonderful dishes that our nationally recognized chefs will be preparing,” Goodman said. “We look forward to dining with our fellow Clevelanders as we tackle hunger together, one meal at a time.”

The Taste of the Browns Celebrity Dinner to benefit the Cleveland Foodbank will be held Monday, Sept. 12, from 6 – 9:00 p.m. in the AT&T City View Club Lounge at Cleveland Browns Stadium. Tickets are $150 each (50 percent of which is tax-deductible), and all proceeds benefit the Cleveland Foodbank. For more information or to order tickets, call (216) 738-2046 or visit www.cleveland.com/tasteofthebrowns.

Official Website: http://www.cleveland.com/tasteofthebrowns/