Amachi Pittsburgh Partners With TV Personality and Best-Selling Author Chef Jeff Henderson for Unique Fundraising Event

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Sep 07, 2010, 02:00 ET

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Amachi Pittsburgh, an organization dedicated to helping children in Allegheny County with incarcerated parents, is pleased to announce that Chef Jeff Henderson, TV personality and New York Times bestselling author, will serve as the keynote speaker at its upcoming fundraising event, "A Recipe for Discovery." This unique event will consist of an inspirational presentation and cooking demonstration led by Chef Jeff. It will take place on Thursday, October 28th with a reception beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in downtown Pittsburgh (One Bigelow Square).

"At Amachi Pittsburgh, we are thrilled to feature Chef Jeff at our upcoming 'Recipe for Discovery' event," said Anna Hollis, executive director of Amachi Pittsburgh. "Chef Jeff's journey of hope and redemption aligns with the mission of our organization and will surely be a source of inspiration to all involved."

Amachi Pittsburgh empowers children of incarcerated parents to discover their God-given gifts and potential even though their home life may be in crisis, by providing them with a mentoring system and support resources. Amachi Pittsburgh's goals are twofold:

Through mentoring, to reach children in Allegheny County with one or both parents in a correctional facility, with the goal of reducing the likelihood of these children perpetuating the cycle of imprisonment as juveniles or adults.

Through capacity building, to equip, train and support local faith- and community-based organizations in their vital roles of outreach, intervention and mentorship.

Growing up on the tough streets of South Central Los Angeles, Jeff Henderson was running a $35,000-per-week cocaine operation by the time he was 19 years-old. At 24, he was arrested and spent the next 10 years behind bars. During his incarceration, Jeff discovered his passion for cooking and made a commitment to turn his life around. Upon his release, he succeeded by working his way through the culinary world from dishwasher to executive chef at Cafe Bellagio in Las Vegas. Chef Jeff made history in 2001 when he became the first African-American chef de cuisine at Caesar's Palace.

Chef Jeff's story is chronicled in his New York Times best-selling memoir COOKED. His life story is also being turned into a major motion picture by Columbia Pictures, Overbrook Entertainment and Escape Artist, the team that produced the film "The Pursuit of Happyness".

Chef Jeff is currently the host of his own reality TV series that airs on The Food Network. "The Chef Jeff Project" aims to provide six at-risk young adults with the knowledge, skills and opportunity for a new life with a culinary career.

To purchase tickets for "A Recipe for Discovery," please call Amachi Pittsburgh at 412-281-3752.

About Amachi Pittsburgh

Who knows what God has brought us through this child? Since 2003, Amachi Pittsburgh has been dedicated to helping Allegheny County's children fulfill their God-given purpose. We take our name – and our inspiration – from a Nigerian Ibo word that affirms the potential that exists in each and every child. Through a unique partnership of secular and faith-based organizations, Amachi works to mentor young minds, ensuring that all children are rightfully recognized as children of promise. For more information, visit www.AmachiPgh.org.