Share Our Strength Launches Restaurant Dinner Series In Maine To Benefit Hungry Children With Noted Chefs Rob Evans And Sam Hayward

Share Our Strength today announced it is expanding its efforts to end childhood hunger in Maine, launching a dinner series whose first event is an evening at Hugo's hosted by James Beard Award-winning chefs Rob Evans of Hugo's and Sam Hayward of Fore Street. All proceeds raised from the evening will support Share Our Strength's efforts to eliminate childhood hunger, which affects more than 60,000 children in Maine.

The event, to be held Sunday, May 22 at Hugo's (88 Middle Street, Portland), will include a cocktail reception; an auction; and a multi-course Spring-themed dinner, with wines, developed and prepared by Evans and Hayward. This evening marks the first time the two chefs have collaborated exclusively on a dinner.

"Rob and Sam were instrumental in launching Share Our Strength in Maine six years ago," said John Woods, who coordinates Share Our Strength's activities in Maine. "It's only natural that they would lend their time and talents for this spectacular evening."

The evening will begin at 5:30 with a cocktail reception, followed by an auction whose items include in-home dinners by both Evans and Hayward, and conclude with the one-of-a-kind dinner prepared by two of the country's outstanding culinary talents.

"An evening at either Hugo's or Fore Street is a singular experience. To have both chefs together in the same kitchen on the same night will be something special," noted Hugo's general manager Arlin Smith.

Share Our Strength Maine Dinner at Hugo's featuring Rob Evans and Sam Hayward
Date and Time: Sunday, May 22 - 5:30 p.m.
Location: 88 Middle Street, Portland
Tickets: Tickets for the dinner are $250 per person, and may be purchased by contacting Arlin Smith of Hugo's at (207) 774-8538.

Sponsors of the evening include Portland-based Power Pay, also a local sponsor of Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation Maine, and Bill Dodge Auto Group, which for the second year will donate a BMW automobile for the Taste of the Nation Maine raffle.

"I am constantly amazed to see the selflessness of our volunteers, sponsors, participating restaurants, chefs, bartenders, servers and others who donate their time, products and labor without asking for a penny in return," said Woods. "To a person, they are committed to ending childhood hunger in Maine, and demonstrate that commitment through their work all year long."

Maine's Taste of the Nation event will be Sunday, June 26, in the Leavitt and Paris Tent Pavilion on the campus of Southern Maine Community College. Tickets to Taste of the Nation are available online at www.strength.org/maine.


About Share Our Strength
Share Our Strength is the leading national organization working to make sure no kid in America grows up hungry. We weave together a net of community groups, activists and good programs to catch the children at risk of hunger and ensure they have nutritious food where they live, learn and play. We work with the culinary industry to create engaging, pioneering programs like Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation, Share Our Strength's Great American Bake Sale, Share Our Strength's A Tasteful Pursuit, Share Our Strength's Great American Dine Out, and Share Our Strength's Operation Frontline. Visit Strength.org to learn more.

# # #