Connoisseurs for Charity raises funds for Woodforest Charitable Foundation

Woodforest Charitable Foundation's Connoisseurs for Charity fundraising gala featured five celebrity chefs at Amerigos Grille.

The Woodforest Charitable Foundation's sixth annual Connoisseurs for Charity event raised $525,000.

A total of 160 guests attended the event, which included a five-course dinner with fine wines, a tribute to the armed forces and an auction.

The dinner showcased five highly acclaimed chefs: Arturo Osorio, of Amerigos Grille; Charles Clark, of Ibizas Food and Wine Bar; Kent Rathbun, of Jaspers; Mark Cox, of Mark's American Cuisine; and Bryan Caswell of REEF.

"We are blessed to have such wonderful chef partners who give not only of their time and resources but from their heart," Kim Marling, executive director and vice president of Woodforest Charitable Foundation, said in a press release.

All guests who attended had the opportunity to direct their $500 dinner ticket to one of the pre-selected charities, which included Boys & Girls Country, Children's Safe Harbor, Interfaith of The Woodlands, Montgomery County Food Bank, Montgomery County Women's Shelter, Montgomery County Youth Services, Texas New Community Alliance (New Danville) or TOMAGWA Healthcare Ministries. Underwriting provided by Woodforest National Bank allows 100 percent of ticket sales to benefit charities.

As a tribute to the armed forces, it was announced that all proceeds from an auction item, a private event with the five participating chefs, will benefit Helping A Hero, which provides homes to severely injured military personnel.

For more information on The Woodforest Charitable Foundation, visit www.woodforestcharitablefoundation.org.