Le Bon Appetit is a multi-day, award-winning fundraiser event that brings some of the nation's most celebrated chefs to Memphis, Tenn., to further the mission of Le Bonheur Children's Hospital, one of the nation's best children's hospitals. Renowned chef Kelly English partners with LEO Events biannually to organize this event—and together, they have found success by cultivating a "mission-first" mentality, capitalizing on cause-based event trends, and maximizing donor engagement.
Ingredient 1: The Right Concept
Back in 2014, Le Bonheur sought an original fundraising concept that broadened its donor audience. The idea of Le Bon Appetit was born. The curated culinary experience capitalizes on the best Memphis offers: hospitality, community, philanthropy, and incredible food.Over the next decade, the event grew, and in 2024 it drew an audience of 1,000+ foodies and featured 33 award-winning culinary visionaries from Memphis and across the country. Correlating micro-events, including the Chef Showdown, Chef Hospital Tour & Luncheon, and a late-night party, created even more opportunities for community members to give back. This year's affordable ticket option for the late-night experience featured mixologists, late-night bites, and stage entertainment designed to capture a new, diverse demographic of younger donors.
The Chef Showdown is a beloved part of the festivities, a cooking competition that mimicked popular TV cooking competition shows. In The Showdown, four chefs went head-to-head to impress some of the toughest critics around: patients from Le Bonheur Children's! This friendly contest created space for endearing interaction between the chefs and the kids and illuminated the heart of Le Bon Appetit.
Ingredient 2: Precise Planning & Expert Execution
In planning this fundraiser, LEO prioritized precise budgeting, so the greatest percentage of funds raised went directly to Le Bonheur. By utilizing kitchens and workspaces inside the multi-use venue, LEO provided chefs, sponsors, and attendees with a functional space that added to the ambiance. The team also provided all the supplies and tools the chefs needed to execute their dishes to perfection.Ingredient 3: Being Up for a Challenge
The biggest challenge for this event was working within a non-traditional warehouse-style venue. The LEO team built out kitchens and prep areas for all the chefs, and expanded the overall venue footprint with tent structures to accommodate sponsors, VIPS, and a noteworthy after-party.Ingredient 4: Staying Connected
LEO also crafted a communication plan to keep chefs and stakeholders informed at every step, and oversaw all catering operations for the event. Additionally, LEO managed all logistics including transportation, hotel reservations, and flights for the chefs to ensure the smoothest possible experience.Sponsorships and in-kind donations covered the cost of various services, including trash management, decor, valet, and more. To date, Le Bon Appetit has raised over $1 million to benefit Le Bonheur Children's Hospital. Planning is already underway for the next event in June 2026!
We're ready to add new energy to your next event. To experience the LEO's people power for yourself, get in touch at [email protected]!
