Celebrity chefs Alex Guarnaschelli, Sam Hart, Chris Ivens‑Brown to Unite for St. Jude Families Facing Childhood Cancer

Food, community, and hope will take center stage at the St. Jude Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner

CHARLOTTE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The St. Jude Celebrity Chef & Wine Dinner will bring together acclaimed chefs, philanthropists, and supporters for an evening dedicated to advancing the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital® on May 9 at The Revelry North End.

Guests will be treated to a world-class culinary experience led by Alex Guarnaschelli, Food Network star, cookbook author, and restaurateur; Sam Hart, chef and owner of Counter, Charlotte’s Michelin‑starred restaurant; and Chris Ivens‑Brown, executive chef with Compass Group. The evening will begin with a cocktail hour featuring tasting stations, a wine wall showcasing over 100 selections, signature cocktails, and lively entertainment. Throughout the night, guests will enjoy live and silent auctions showcasing exclusive items and experiences, including a Caribbean vacation, Lake Tahoe retreat, and multiple European destinations, plus chef-led culinary experiences, drivable Carolina getaways, limited-edition bourbons, and premier golf excursions.

A highlight of the evening will be the presentation of the Hope Award to the Palmer family, a St. Jude family from the Carolinas, recognized for their advocacy and dedication to raising awareness of the institution's mission. Through grassroots fundraising efforts such as neighborhood art sales that raised thousands of dollars for research and patient care, the Palmers have mobilized friends, extended family, and their community to inspire philanthropic support for St. Jude.

Guests will also hear from Kelly Goddard, a local St. Jude mother who will share her family’s experience and the role donor support plays for families navigating a childhood cancer diagnosis.

Executive Chairs Dino Bernacchi, chief marketing officer of Sonic Automotive, and his wife, Tracy, along with a committee of local executives and community leaders, helped lead the signature Charlotte gala. Proceeds from the event help ensure that families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing, or food—so they can focus on helping their child live.

For sponsorship opportunities, tickets, or more information, visit www.stjude.org/charlottedinner.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital^®

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is leading the way the world understands, treats and defeats childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Its purpose is clear: Finding cures. Saving children.^® It is the only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center devoted solely to children. When St. Jude opened in 1962, childhood cancer was largely considered incurable. Since then, St. Jude has helped push the overall survival rate from 20% to more than 80% in the United States, and it won't stop until no child dies from cancer. St. Jude shares the breakthroughs it makes to help doctors and researchers at local hospitals and cancer centers around the world improve the quality of treatment and care for even more children. Because of generous donors, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food, so they can focus on helping their child live. Visit St. Jude Inspire to discover powerful St. Jude stories of hope, strength, love and kindness. Support the St. Jude mission by donating at stjude.org, liking St. Jude on Facebook, following St. Jude on X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok, and subscribing to its YouTube channel.