29 February Red Robin Fundraiser For Cooking with the Troops

Posted on February 20, 2012 by wolf1 in CwtT, Donations | Leave a comment

The West Carmel Red Robin (9965 N. Michigan Road, redrobin.com) is hosting an Indianapolis-area fundraiser on Wednesday 29 February for Cooking with the Troops. The restaurant is donating ten percent of their proceeds for the day to the charity to help support U.S. and Allied troops, their families, and caregivers.

“We are proud to help an Indiana-based charity that is doing so much for out troops and veterans,” says Sean Keefe, general manager of the restaurant. “Everyone on our team is excited to be involved with a charity the gives back to our deserving troops. To help them as they help with things from nutrition to jobs is something we are glad to do, especially given their upcoming event on D-Day.”

The fundraiser will run from 11 am to 10 pm, and the afternoon will see something special. From 2-4 PM, Indianapolis-area bestselling author Michael Z. Williamson will be signing 100 copies of his books, given to those coming in and buying a meal in support of Cooking with the Troops. The books are a donation from publisher Baen Books.

“We can’t begin to thank Red Robin enough for this,” states C. Blake Powers, CEO of Cooking with the Troops. “We have requests for a number of events from troops and wounded, some young veterans who will be catering a very special reception at Normandy on D-Day, and are working to help get a chef to Afghanistan to cook for some of the troops out in remote locations.  Doing all this takes money and support, and this will be a huge help to those efforts.”

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Happy Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 14, 2012 by wolf1 in CwtT | Leave a comment

There are five very special women in my life.  Yep, five.  Five whom I am lucky to know, and, they even sorta like me.  What’s more, some of them are even married.  Yep, I went there — married.  What’s more, they make me proud to know them because of what they do.

Ellen1

Ellen Adams is a 20-year Air Force veteran who embarked on a very different career on leaving the service.  She went to culinary school in the U.S. and in Italy, and became a personal chef.  On top of that, she volunteered to develop the Homefront Program for Cooking with the Troops.  Last year, she took time off from her work to develop the program, conduct the initial and proof-of-concept events, and is already at work on improving and expanding the program.
Heather1

Heather Solos is a child of the military, a former professional chef, and now blogger and author.  Despite getting her new career off the ground, and being a mom, she has devoted a lot of time and effort to Cooking with the Troops.  This included helping with food events and serving as Ellen’s second in command on the Homefront Program events at the Warrior and Family Support Center at BAMC.  Like Ellen, she’s working to help us grow and do more for as many more as we can.
Marta

Marta Darby is a proud mother, cook, and blogger — and a long-time food crush of mine for her recipes at Babalu Blog.  How can you not love a woman who when asked to come cook for 200 or so (that turned out to be 350 or so) at BAMC, not only shows up but brings her husband, two sons, and two daughters along at her own expense to help?  Who continues to support the troops and Cooking with the Troops?

Amy and Lucy are Marta’s daughters.  Two wonderful young ladies who can smoke a cigar, play dominos, and cook like nobody’s business.  CLAP CLAP CLAP CLAP!!  Their work ensured not only good food, but they made sure that more than 350 were served with a smile and love as if members of their own family.  LUUUCCCCYYYYY!  Nope, no photo as they are too young and innocent to be exposed to this crowd.  :)

I’m incredibly lucky to know these women, and I don’t say it to them often enough.  Thank you.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

LW

Cross posted at Blackfive

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