Real Men Cook’s 2018 Father’s Day Celebration to Pay Tribute to Fathers for 29th Year
Real Men Cook® — Chicago’s premiere urban Father’s Day charity event – will host its 29thth annual celebration to fathers on the grounds of Hales Franciscan High School, 4930 S. Cottage Grove on June 17 from 3PM to 6PM. The overall purpose of the event is to honor fathers, father-figures and other Real Men.Real Men Cook is the largest, longest-running and most-anticipated Father’s Day celebration of its kind.
The event will be held at Hales Franciscan because the School’s mission to educate, uplift and guide African-American boys aligns with the mission of Real Men Cook and its charitable arm, Real Men Charities. While the event’s centerpiece will be at Hales Franciscan, there will be satellite Real Men Cook celebrations in Chicago’s South Suburbs sponsored by Fathers and Blessings, and in Gary, Indiana hosted by Trinity United Church of Christ in Gary.
For the first time in the history of the 29-year event, there will be an upscale, sit-down white-tablecloth dinner option on Father’s Day at the Quarry Event Center, 2423 E. 75th Street, headquarters of Real Men Charities. This addition to the Real Men Cook festivities is in response to many men who expressed a desire to be feted in a formal setting. The Quarry will feature jazz and a seven-course meal that will be served by wait staff. Tickets for the gala event are $45. Proceeds will go to Real Men Charities.
In making the announcement, Ayinde Cartman, Real Men Charities, Inc. Executive Director, indicated that Real Men Cook decided to focus all of its resources on showcasing Hales Franciscan High School and Fathers and Blessings because the three share a common mission to cultivate the character of young African-American men and to uplift the family. As a result, a partnership was launched. “Under this alliance,” explained Cartman, “our organizations collaborate year-round through mentoring and service programs.”
Obari Cartman. PhD Psychology, Real Men Charities, Inc. program manager, will provide programming and coordinate activities that align with the organization’s Men’s Wellness Sunday activities, which are offered from the Quarry Events Center from 11:00 – 1:30 each Sunday.
Dr. Cartman underscored the reason the Chicago celebration will be held at Hales Franciscan by noting its progress. He said that in 2017-2018, Hales successfully completed a full academic year with one class after being closed the prior year. He stressed that on the strength of the triumphant relaunch, Hales will begin its second year in the fall with an added class. The school’s plan is to eventually have a full complement of males at every grade level.
Yvette Moyo, Real Men Cook co-founder, credits President Anthony (Taifa) Daniels –Halisi, for his dedication. He said he is grateful that Real Men Cook selected Hales because the celebration shines a light on the school and its long history of transforming African-American boys into men.
The University of Chicago Medicine will host The Health and Wellness Zone, which supports Real Men Charities, Inc.’s mission to build healthy families and communities, and the tradition of promoting health and wellness, prevention and awareness for families and children.
Real Men Cook is a much-anticipated and eagerly-awaited annual celebration. Men devote Father’s Day to cooking their special dishes and to serving the community. Among those who will be preparing and serving is a new consortium of emerging cooks known as Chicago’s Black Chefs. These young cooks will be featuring their favorite dishes at Hales and at the Quarry, as well as in the south suburbs at the event to benefit Fathers and Blessings.
Some of the high-profile men who have donned a chef’s hat and participated in the past include U.S. Senator Barack Obama, Congressmen Danny Davis, John Conyers, and John Lewis. Former State Senate President Emil Jones, Jr., and his son State Senator Emil Jones III and Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. and his sons, former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Professor Jonathan Jackson have also joined in past celebrations.
Sponsors of Real Men Cook 2018 are ComEd, University of Chicago Medicine, the Obama Foundation and Great Migration Centennial.
For more information, visit www.realmencook.com
About Real Men Cook
Real Men Cook was conceived and launched in Chicago in 1989 by entrepreneurs Yvette Moyo and Kofi Moyo as a local Father’s Day family celebration. The original concept grew to being celebrated in as many as 13 cities and evolved into a national Father’s Day tradition.
About Real Men Charities
Real Men Charities, Inc. is the sponsor and the benevolent arm of Real Men Cook. It is committed to building healthy families and communities with emphases on male outreach involvement, education, outreach and advocacy on food resources, healthy eating, healthcare and public policies on these issues. As part of its mission, the year Real Men Charities was awarded a Safe and Peaceful Communities grant for the third year from the Chicago Community Trust. Ayinde Cartman is Executive Director, Dr. Obari Cartman is Program Manager and Kevyn Giggers is Associate Director.
