Rick and Lanie Bayless Headline Food Depository's 12th Annual Bag Hunger Auction on Sept. 29

Rick and Lanie Bayless Headline Food Depository's 12th Annual Bag Hunger Auction on Sept. 29

WHO: More than 25 of Chicago's celebrity chefs -- including honorary event co-chairs Rick Bayless, of Frontera Grill, and his daughter Lanie -- will be joining the local fight against hunger for the 12th Annual Bag Hunger Auction on Sept. 29. The roster of chefs serving up their specialties will include Gale Gand of Tru, Jeff Muldrow of Va Pensiero, John Bubala of Thyme, Tony Priolo of Coco Pazzo, and Kristine Subido of W Hotel's WAVE Restaurant.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040512/CGW059LOGO )

WHAT: Alongside both a silent and live auction, guests can sip fabulous cocktails, sway to live jazz melodies, all while considering some of the most exclusive and exquisite auction packages available during this year's auction circuit, including luxury travel packages, tickets to Bruce Springsteen's next sold-out acoustic show in Chicago, and behind-the-scenes visits at places that range from Tru's state- of-the-art pastry kitchen, to ABC 7's studios in a tour led by Anchor Ron Magers to the tanks and wonders of the Shedd Aquarium, led by Dr. Jeff Boehm, Shedd's Senior Vice President for Animal Health Science and Conservation.

A raffle -- with prizes that include a $1000 shopping spree at Crate & Barrel -- and an opportunity for all guests to participate in a Special Appeal for Hunger Relief will also be among the evening's activities.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 29, 2005 Silent auction begins at 6 p.m. Live auction begins at 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Chicago Sheraton Hotel & Towers 301 East North Water Street, Chicago

WHY: The Bag Hunger Auction benefits the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago's food bank, a non-profit food distribution center that serves 600 member soup kitchens, pantries and shelters in Cook County. Chefs will be assisted by students of Chicago's Community Kitchens, a program of the Greater Chicago Food Depository that helps individuals break their cycle of poverty by providing training and placement in the foodservice industry.

HOW: Buy advance tickets for $85 online at http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/ until Sept. 28.

Tickets will also be available for $100 at the door on Sept. 29.

VISUALS: -- Celebrity chefs, including Rick and Lanie Bayless, serving up savory bites -- Live auction excitement led by Leslie Hindman -- Silent auction packages decorated in festive and whimsical "bags"

INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES:

-- Mike Mulqueen, executive director, Greater Chicago Food Depository -- Rick and Lanie Bayless, event honorary co-chairs -- Leslie Hindman, celebrity Chicago auctioneer

SUPPORT for this year's Bag Hunger Auction comes from Title Sponsor CDW; Media Sponsor Chicago Magazine; Lead Benefactor United Airlines; Benefactors FTD, Genesis Press, Mittal Steel and WXRT-FM; and Friends Dulin Metals and Grosvenor Capital Management.

The Greater Chicago Food Depository, Chicago's food bank, is a not-for- profit food distribution center providing food for hungry people while striving to end hunger in our community. The Food Depository distributes donated and purchased food through a network of 600 pantries, soup kitchens and shelters to more than 91,000 adults and children every week. Last year, the Food Depository distributed more than 40 million pounds of non-perishable food and fresh produce, dairy products, meat, poultry and fish, the equivalent of more than 84,300 meals every day.

For more information, log onto http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/ or call 773.247.3663.

MEDIA CONTACT: Ruth Igoe reigoe@gcfd.org 773.843.2843 Cell: 773.447.0697

PRNewswire -- Sept. 27

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040512/CGW059LOGO AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/ PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com Source: Greater Chicago Food Depository

Web site: http://www.chicagosfoodbank.org/

------- Profile: Ent