To learn more about Bert’s Big Adventure, visit www.bertsbigadventure.org.
Combine the old addage that breakfast is the most important meal of the day with an inspiration to give back to charity and you may have a recipe for success.
Suzanne Vizethann, founder and chef of Buttermilk Kitchen, and Stacey Weiss came together to host the first Breakfast for Dinner event on Oct. 3 at the Buckhead restaurant. The event would raise money for Bert’s Big Adventure, a nonprofit organization that provides an all-expenses-paid journey to Walt Disney World for children with chronic and terminal illnesses and their families.
“Bert’s Big Adventure is all about making relationships and connections for our families who are facing similar circumstances,” said Weiss, who is the executive director of BBA. Started in 2002, Bert’s Big Adventure has taken over 130 families to Disney World offering VIP experiences at the amusement park for five days.
The 12-year-old charity has grown from the annual trip to Disney World to reunion adventures four times a year so families can reunite with each other after the trip. BBA has also worked to get the community involved through various events around Atlanta, such as the one hosted by Buttermilk Kitchen.
Getting involved with the local charity was a way for Vizethann to give back to the city that supports her. “Chef-driven restaurants depend on community support,” she said. “When Stacey and I met, I knew we had to partner together to do something for this cause. This event really is about standing up for our community, and being able to give back together.”
Along with Vizethann, the dinner event brought together famed Atlanta-based chefs including chef Ron Eyester of Rosebud, The Family Dog and Timone’s; chef Keith Schroeder of High Road Craft; and chef Zeb Stevenson of Two Urban Licks. The dinner included a 5-course chef tasting with pairings that proclaimed homage to breakfast. The evening raised over $1,500 for Bert’s Big Adventure.
Along with Weiss, Bert’s Big Adventure was started by her husband, Bert, Q100 radio personality who hosts the syndicated morning show, The Bert Show. He was inspired by longtime friend and mentor DJ Kidd Kraddick’s charity, Kidd’s Kids, which takes special needs children and their families to Disney World.
Collecting and donating items on the BBA wish list, donating financially, or volunteering to become a Fairy Godparent (people who visit BBA kids while they are in the hospital), “the community support really drives what we do for our families,” said Weiss.
“Everything from the trips to Disney for our families to partnering with local businesses like Buttermilk Kitchen to raise awareness establishes meaningful and lasting friendships that make a difference in our community.”
Bert’s Big Adventure is currently accepting applications for the 2014 Walt Disney World trip.
In other news: Every Saturday in September, Gigi's Cupcakes store owners Gil Lyons (Sandy Springs), Judy Kenney (Marietta), Sarah Bonner (Buckhead), and Deena Coughlin (Norcross) sold gold ribbon cupcakes in honor of National Pediatric Cancer Month. The ladies presented a check for $1,695 to C.U.R.E. Childhood Cancer, a nonprofit cancer research foundation dedicated to finding cures for childhood cancer.
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