Image provided by FoodForThoughtDallas.com

The fourth annual Food for Thought event will be held from 7 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday, September 22, at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

Showcasing Dallas/Fort Worth’s finest chefs and cuisine, Food for Thought benefits Big Thought, one of Dallas’ leading nonprofits dedicated to improving public education through creative learning (and Big Thought happens to be celebrating its 25th anniversary this year). At the event, former DISD School Board Trustee Edwin Flores will be honored with the coveted Gavel of Excellence Award. Food For Thought is presented by Lockheed Martin in partnership with the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers.

“Edwin devoted six years to our children through service on the Dallas ISD School Board where he consistently pushed for policies aimed at improving student outcomes,” said Mark Melton, tax attorney at Hunton & Williams LLP and chair of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Food for Thought Committee. “He maintained a singular focus on what was best for the children. They will have greater opportunities in life because of his efforts.”

Previous Gavel of Excellence award recipients include Daryl Johnston (2011), Ebby Halliday (2010) and Jim Keyes (2009).

Food for Thought features more than a dozen chefs from our city’s best establishments presenting signature “tastes” of their specialties during the evening. The event also includes live entertainment, silent auction, open premium bar and special awards presentation.

Featured chefs include:

• David Balli, Chiloso Mexican Bistro
• Tiffany Derry, Private Social
• Samir Dhurandhar, Nick and Sam’s
• Michael Ehlert, Campo Modern Country Bistro
• Estevan Galindo, Hattie’s
• Lisa Garza, Sissy’s Southern Kitchen
• Brad Holt, Two Sisters To-Go
• Khanh Nguyen, Dalat
• Janice Provost, Parigi
• Matt Reddick, formerly of Il Cane Rosso
• Jon Stevens, Nosh
• Jonathan Stirnweis, Two Sisters Catering
• Nicole Van Camp, Pop-ups
• Tre Wilcox, Village Marquee Bar and Grill
• and more.
• Additional stations include offerings from Whole Foods, Artizone.com and Kruffles.

Sponsors to date include Lockheed Martin, Bell Nunnally, Claims Adjustment Specialists, Ernst & Young, Fluor, Heartland IT Consulting, LBJ Express Project, Park Place Dealers, and Whole Foods Market. In-kind contributors are Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Frontiers of Flight Museum, Gold Crown Valet and Texas Lawyers.

Tickets to the event, which takes place at the Frontiers of Flight Museum at 6900 Lemmon Avenue, are now available. Tickets start at $75 per person. For more information and to purchase tickets call 469-916-9818 or go to www.foodforthoughtdallas.com.

About Big Thought

For 25 years, Big Thought has provided creative learning programs that help kids imagine possibilities, excel academically and contribute to their community. Driven by its mission to make imagination a part of everyday learning, Big Thought develops programs that address academic achievement and youth development by connecting classroom objectives and traditional teaching methods with arts, culture and creative learning. Through its partnerships, Big Thought serves more than 300,000 Dallas children, families and teachers each year, both in and out of the classroom. Annually, Big Thought also delivers more than one million hours of programming and individual creative instruction.

A model to cities across America, Big Thought has achieved national recognition, including the Americans for the Arts “2009 Arts in Education Award” and the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities “Coming Up Taller Award” in 2004. In 2011, the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities selected Big Thought President/CEO Gigi Antoni as a “Champion of Change,” serving on a White House panel highlighting best practices in arts education. Learn more at bigthought.org.

What: A night of food and entertainment to benefit Big Thought
When: Saturday, September 22, 2012
7-11 p.m.
Where: Frontiers of Flight Museum
6900 Lemmon Avenue
Dallas, TX 75206 (Map)
How Much: $75
How to Purchase: http://foodforthoughtdallas.com/tickets/