Annual 'Taste of Browns' fundraising event to help tackle hunger in northeast Ohio

CLEVELAND - The Cleveland Browns may have lost their home opener Sunday, but Monday night is sure to be a big win at the stadium.

It's the 14th annual "Taste of the Browns" fundraising event at Browns Stadium. The premiere party features Cleveland Browns alumni and current players, food from over 25 of Cleveland's finest restaurants, live music, and a one-of-a-kind auction and raffle.

Proceeds from the event go to the Cleveland Foodbank. Last year's "Taste of Cleveland" raised more than $140,000. For every dollar donated, the Cleveland Foodbank can provide four meals, so it translated to more than half a million meals.

Former Browns player and current restaurant owner, Al "Bubba" Baker, is the event's co-chair. He talked to NewsChannel5 about what the "Taste of Browns" means to him. His Avon restaurant, Bubba Q, will be one of the featured restaurants at the gala.

"These people that get this food won't even know what took place, and that's the true essence of giving," said Baker.

He said giving back to the community is extremely important to him, and he is proud of the Browns organization for being a big part of this fundraiser.

"We're tops. That's one of the things that makes me proud to be a Cleveland Brown. They always get involved and they definitely put back into this community," he said.

The "Taste of the Browns" is on Monday from 6 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Browns Stadium. Tickets are $150 each and are still available on the Browns website.