Last week, Tzedek DC held our seventh annual Eat Well, Do Justice!® celebration. We are enormously grateful for the outpouring of support reflected at the event, which helped us raise over $403,000—and still counting!—in support of our justice mission over the course of a fun, substantive, and tasty evening. A huge thank you to all who made the evening, the second back in person after a two-year hiatus, a special one!
The program kicked off with a video compilation of features from previous Eat Well, Do Justice events, including past years’ messages from U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, then-Attorney General Karl Racine, and DC Councilmembers Robert White and Brianne Nadeau. Tzedek DC’s Board Chair Rachel Kronowitz delivered welcoming remarks.
Founding President & Director-Counsel Ariel Levinson-Waldman spoke about our work, including our financial counselor program and our new Youth Empowerment Program with UDC Community College and other partners. He and Associate Director Sarah Hollender presented Volunteer Senior Advisor Janet Lowenthal with our inaugural Volunteer Service Award. CNN Anchor and Chief Political Correspondent Dana Bash also sent in her words of support virtually from New York City, where she had been called away for her day job!
The five stellar chefs, recruited by Honorary Chair Bonnie Benwick, stole the show that evening, however, each with their own unique creations. Maurice Dixon of Reese’s Catering showcased an inspired Sweet Potato Soul Roll, Jerome Grant of Mahal Afro-Filipino BBQ fame (among other accomplishments) highlighted local ingredients with a Mushroom and Walnut Lumpia, Katherine Thompson of Thompson Italian provided the perfect end-of-summer dish in the form of a Sweet Corn Tortellini with Aleppo Butter and Chives, and Padua Player, the SugaChef himself, brought in the dessert with Caramel Apple Profiteroles.
Even though it may feel like picking your favorite child, as moderator Laura Kumin noted, one stuffed creation shone especially! The Sweet Potato Puchka with a Kokum Shot on the side from Rahul Vinod & Sahil Rahman of RASA won the judges’ hearts and took home the evening’s well-deserved victory.
We are especially grateful to guest judges Doron Azrad and Rachell Bitton, owners of Kosher Sustenance, and Donna Henry of Soup Up, cumulatively co-winners of Eat Well, Do Justice 2022: Soup for the Soul! We are also grateful to Congressman Glenn Ivey (a former Tzedek DC volunteer lawyer!), who generously supported the event with his name but was held up in debates at the nearby Capitol.
The event was skillfully co-chaired by Annie Binder, Laura Kumin, June Kress, and Nina Simon. The Host Committee and Sponsors were also instrumental in the evening’s success. For those who were unable to attend, links to the recap video, as well as Dana Bash’s remarks, are available above. In addition, you can check out this great story about the event in DC Bar by reporter Jeremy Conrad!
As announced at the event, gifts to Tzedek DC this month are being matched thanks to the extraordinary generosity of several anonymous donors. The match extends up to $18,000 and has not yet closed. Please consider donating now to double the impact of your gift!
As in past years, this Eat Well, Do Justice event sold out days before the event. Make sure to secure your tickets for EWDJ 2024 when they become available next summer!
