Guy Fieri.Photo:Dylan Rives/Getty
Dylan Rives/Getty
Guy Fieridropped everything to help the people of Maui.
The Food Network star’sGuy Fieri Foundationannounced on Wednesday that they will be hosting a“Chefs for Maui Fundraiser”toraise moneyfor theMaui wildfirerelief efforts.
“I’ve shot over 16 locations in Maui for my shows, and I travel to Maui with my family year after year for vacation. It is such a special place, and what makes it special are the people," theDiners, Drive-Ins and Divesstar tells PEOPLE exclusively. “To think of those people that love their island, and love their families, and make visitors feel welcome, we need to stop what we’re doing and do what we can to help them.”
The event — which will be taking place on Oct. 21 — will see Fieri and over 20 all-star chefs cook up a 15-course feast in Sonoma County, Calif. The day will also include chef interactions and live music.
“I sent a message to my chef friends and within five minutes, a handful of them were on board, and then within the hour there were 10 more, and within two days I was getting messages that these chefs were canceling other projects and commitments to help support,” says Fieri. “It’s going to be an unprecedented culinary gathering to help support the people of Maui.”
Lahaina, Hawaii on Aug. 11 following the wildfire.Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
Ticketsstart at $2,500, but the foundation is also accepting smaller donations for those who can’t attend. Net proceeds will benefit food service workers of Maui andthe Salvation Army’s Hawaiian and Pacific Islands division.
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Stars likeBrooke Williamson,Maneet Chauhan. Fieri’s oldest sonHunterandStephanie Izardwill be cooking during the event.
As of Monday, 115 people have been confirmed dead and over 1000 people are missing following the wildfire in Lahaina, which was first reported on Aug. 8, according to theAssociated Press. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green said in avideo statementon Sunday that over 1800 people who have been displaced from their homes are now in hotel rooms with “very few people left in shelters.”
Guy Fieri.Emma McIntyre/WireImage
Emma McIntyre/WireImage
“Our whole town is gone. Our jobs are gone. Our house is gone. Our cars are gone and our whole community is just, I mean, it’s the entire town,” she said.
“I’ve never seen anything this tragic since 9-11,” she added. “It’s like, what do you do when you weren’t expecting your entire town, all the buildings and businesses and houses, to just be wiped out?”
source: people.com
