Cleveland's 'Taste of Browns' event raises enough money for more than 600,000 local meals

CLEVELAND - The annual "Taste of Browns Celebrity Dinner" raised the most money ever during its big ever this month.

The event, held at the Browns stadium on Sept. 10, raised $168,218 to help feed the hungry in Northeast Ohio. That translates to 672, 872 meals that the Cleveland Foodbank can distribute to more than 650 agencies in six counties. The money was raised through ticket sales, live and silent auctions and sponsorships. 

According to the most recent U.S. Census, one in five residents, and 30 percent of all children in Cuyahoga County lived below the poverty line in 2011.

“At a time when many families still struggle to put nutritious meals on the table, we are overwhelmed by the support from our region’s local restaurants and chefs, the Cleveland Browns, event sponsors and all of our event attendees,” said Anne Goodman, president and CEO of the Cleveland Foodbank. “Year after year, we are able to rely on the generosity of Northeast Ohioans to come together for the greater good and help us put food on the tables of those who need it most ."

This year’s fundraiser featured more than 25 food and beverage stations with exquisite culinary creations from the area’s most popular restaurants, such as The Greenhouse Tavern, Fahrenheit, Momocho, AMP 150 and Pearl of the Orient. In addition to sampling the city’s best cuisines, attendees were able to meet and mingle with Cleveland Browns alumni and current players, including former Defensive Lineman Al “Bubba” Baker and current Offensive Lineman Joe Thomas, honorary co-chairs of the event.                                            

Next year’s Taste of the Browns Celebrity Dinner will mark its 15 ^th anniversary. Over the 14 years the event has taken place, the Cleveland Foodbank has raised nearly $1.5 million to help feed the region’s hungry.