24-Hour Helpline
(920) 729-5727
Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services
P.O. Box 99
Neenah, WI 54957-0099
Phone: (920) 235-5998
Fax: (920) 729-0690
11th Annual Men Who Cook for Christine Ann Presented by Mercy Medical Center
The summer's most outstanding event, and Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services' biggest fundraiser, was a fabulous success! In it's 11th year, yet again, hundreds of community members turned out to show their support of the agency and its mission. Over 60 local chefs shared their recipes and their giving spirits with event attendees as the food was met with rave reviews. An edge-of-your-seat live auction was one of the highlights of the evening, with Bill Jartz of WBAY-TV as the animated auctioneer. Jonathan Krause of Cumulus continued the charisma as a fellow emcee. Sponsor tables were filled as the air buzzed with excited conversation and savory aromas. But the most influential part of the evening were the sentiments behind the goodwill and generosity - the silent commitment to hundreds of families here in our community, and the knowledge that they will be safer because of each individual contribution.
Executive Director Julie Fevola is pictured here with our fantastic Emcees for the evening, Bill Jartz of WBAY-TV (left) and Jonathan Krause of Cumulus.
Our elegant venue, UW Oshkosh Reeve Memorial Union.
Thank you to this year's sponsors!
Mercy Medical Center & Affinity Health System
CR Meyer
Sadoff & Rudoy Industries, LLP
Baker Tilly
North Star Asset Management
Detjen & Friends
Janesco
First National Bank Fox Valley
Oshkosh Corporation
Sonex Aircraft
Citizens First Credit Union
Oshkosh Northwestern
Cumulus
SPARK Advertising
Castle Pierce
Kimberly Clark
Radiology Associates of the Fox Valley
Oracular
Festival Foods
Miles Kimball Company
WE Energies
VerHalen Commercial Interiors
Oaks Chocolates
First Year Chef: Brett Beaulieu
Walking through the door of Brett Beaulieu's business, the first impression is of flyers, raffle tickets and postcards for local fundraisers and benefits neatly stacked on the front counter. Beaulieu, a soft-spoken family man, believes this is a good way to quietly state his commitment to community support. This June, Beaulieu will be taking an even more visible stand in support of Men Who Cook for Christine Ann, as a first-year chef.
Brett Beaulieu is the owner of an Allstate agency on Oregon Street in Oshkosh. He has been working in insurance for about 16 years and just bought his own agency last August. Brett, his wife Dawn, and their two boys moved to Winneconne around the same time. Although Beaulieu is new to the community, he has made it a point to be involved, joining Rotary and supporting many local organizations. He wants to be someone who shows his support through more than just his words. Beaulieu states, "It's okay to say that [these causes] are good or important, but can we count on you to help out when there is a need?" Although he recognizes that he is one person out of many, Beaulieu believes, "if everyone pitches in a little bit, it adds up."
Beaulieu is excited to be cooking a family recipe, Wild Rice Soup. It's a traditional dish served each Christmas and a self-proclaimed specialty. But he's not cooking just to share a great recipe. Beaulieu's tie to the cause comes from a direct connection to domestic abuse. One of his employees, Jennifer Lang, is a domestic abuse survivor. Beaulieu understands the impact Jennifer's experiences have had on her life and is committed to supporting Jennifer and other victims. Jennifer is active in the community as well and often speaks about her story, which Beaulieu recognizes as a vital part of spreading awareness of domestic violence. When asked the primary reason for his participation in Men Who Cook for Christine Ann, Beaulieu quietly answers, "if it's important to Jenny, it's important to me."
Ten Years and Counting: Dennis McCarthy
Dennis McCarthy's enthusiasm is clear from the moment he begins talking about Men Who Cook for Christine Ann. His energy matches his commitment; this is his tenth year as a chef. A staunch community supporter, each year McCarthy gathers a group of his closest friends, chooses a theme, and throws his infectious energy in to preparing for the event.
This year, McCarthy and his group of chefs have chosen a Louisiana/Cajun flavor for their recipes with costumes to match. They will become the Soggy Bottom Boys (borrowed from the popular film, Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?), and whip up fantastic treats with names like Jailbreak Jambalaya and Convict's Cornbread. McCarthy likes to have a theme because it gets attendees and other chefs involved in the fun. Over the years, McCarthy and his friends have drawn friends and family to Men Who Cook for Christine Ann. He likes the atmosphere created by those in attendance saying, "people who come are faithful to the cause." With a chuckle, he says that all of the wives of his chefs attend to "spend their money, spend our money. The entourage is getting bigger."
McCarthy and his cohorts are no strangers to the kitchen. Each year on Valentine's Day, they create a delicious, multi-course meal for their wives, complete with coordinated gifts. The group of gentlemen all sing in the church choir together and have a weekly boys' night, potluck-style. McCarthy sees cooking as "a friendship thing, everyone's in the kitchen telling stories." His love of cooking came from his grandmother's kitchen, as well as a high school cooking class which he joined "to hang out with girls."
McCarthy, ever the jokester and storyteller, also enjoys the mutual support among community agencies that he sees at events like Men Who Cook for Christine Ann. He believes in giving back to the community, stating "if you live there, you should help." With a hint of solemnity passing over his face, McCarthy mentions his personal involvement with issues of domestic violence. He understands that it is an issue that touches so many lives. This is what keeps him cooking, year after year.
Getting Creative: Jon Carson
"Men Who Cook" is a key fundraising event for Christine Ann; it also helps draw attention to the fact that domestic violence remains a serious issue in our communities. Just as importantly, it is part of the agency's efforts to more actively engage men in the work to end violence against women.
