Gleaners Food Bank Named Official Charity Partner for the World Food Championships

Share:

Posted Aug 19, 2024

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - The World Food Championships (WFC) recently selected Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana as its Official Charity Partner for the upcoming championships scheduled to take place from November 8-12 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. This partnership is designed to combat food insecurity across the Hoosier State.

Ten percent of ticket revenue from premium experiences at the event, including the VIP Experience and Taste of WFC activities, will be donated to Gleaners. These funds will aid Gleaners Food Bank in providing food assistance to those in need while highlighting WFC's commitment to supporting local communities.

"Joining the Indianapolis market is a significant milestone for us, and we deeply appreciate the warm Hoosier hospitality we've received," said Michael Eaton, CEO of World Food Championships. "It's an honor to play a role in supporting the community through Gleaners, and we look forward to making a meaningful impact together."

During the largest food sport competition, more than 300 competitive cooking teams from around the globe will battle it out in 12 categories for the coveted title of World Food Champion and share of the $450,000 prize purse. Spectators can expect various activities and experiences to satisfy food enthusiasts of all ages. Attendees will be able to taste food samples, watch live cooking demonstrations by celebrity chefs, enjoy the barbecue-centric Tyson Tailgate Zone, and participate in interactive food-related games such as "Cake or Fake."

Tickets for the 2024 World Food Championships start at $15 and are available online. Specialty tickets included as part of the donation program include:

Taste of World Food Championships: A Champion-inspired Experience Hosted by celebrity chef Eric Greenspan, this experience features global dishes crafted by former WFC champions. It includes a passport for 12 category samples and five drink samples from award-winning mixologists. Available on Saturday and Sunday (11 a.m. to 4 p.m.), attendees can meet champions, watch culinary demos, and receive prizes, including a curated gift bag. Single-day tickets are $125, and two-day tickets are $225.

The World Food Championships VIP Experience This exclusive area offers a retreat from Kitchen Arena, featuring various food and drink samples, mixology demonstrations, meet and greets with celebrity chefs, and a commemorative 2024 WFC Indianapolis print. Available Saturday and Sunday (10 a.m. to 7 p.m.) and Monday (10 a.m. to 5 p.m.). Single-day tickets are $175, two-day tickets are $325, and three-day tickets are $450.

"We warmly welcome the World Food Championships to Indianapolis and are delighted to support a shared vision of battling food insecurity," said Fred Glass, president and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. "This partnership strengthens our community and brings us closer to ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food.”

Gates will be open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m., with free admission before 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 8 and Saturday, Nov. 9 and free admission all day Tuesday, Nov. 12 for the finals and awards ceremony held from 6 - 8 p.m.

Tickets to the 2024 World Food Championships can be purchased online. For more information about the World Food Championships, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.

###

About World Food Championships

The World Food Championships (WFC) is the premier food sport competition globally. This multi-day, live culinary event features some of the world's best cooks competing for food, fame, and fortune in twelve categories: Bacon, Barbecue, Burger, Chef, Dessert, Live Fire, Noodle, Rice, Sandwich, Seafood, Soup and Vegetarian. Annually, thousands of cook teams vie for a Golden Ticket at official qualifiers to secure their place in the WFC. Since its inception in 2012, the event has seen participation from nearly 40 countries and every state in the U.S. The 2024 World Food Championships will be held on November 8-12 at the Indiana Farm Bureau Fall Creek Pavilion, located at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis. For more information, visit WorldFoodChampionships.com.

About Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, Inc.
Gleaners was founded in 1980 and is a respected leader within Feeding America, the nation’s food bank network. Since then, Gleaners has distributed nearly one billion pounds of food and critical grocery products through a network of 300 hunger relief agencies, schools, and community partners serving Hoosiers facing food insecurity. In addition to food distribution to agencies, we serve our most vulnerable populations, seniors, and children, through specialty programs such as Gleaners2Go, Home Delivery, School-Based Pantries, and Mobile Pantries. Comprehensive outreach services (SNAP, Medicaid, utility assistance, and more) and wrap-around services from collaborative partners are offered to help reduce the line. Gleaners is certified as a Good Wages Initiative Employer by EmployIndy. Charity Navigator has recognized Gleaners as a 4-Star organization, the highest rating for charity demonstrating fiscal management and accountability. In addition, Gleaners is an accredited charity with the Better Business Bureau and has earned a Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. To learn more or contribute, visit www.gleaners.org.

« Back to News

Gleaners Food Bank Named Official Charity Partner for the World Food Championships

© 2024 World Food Championships. All rights reserved. The World Food Championships is a production of WFC Holdings, Inc.