News Release: Empty Bowls Celebrates 15 Years

FORT WORTH (Jan. 25, 2017) – When the door opens at Will Rogers Memorial Center on Friday, Feb. 17, it will mark the 15th anniversary of Empty Bowls, Tarrant Area Food Bank’s signature fundraiser. More than 500 local artists and 50 of Fort Worth’s top chefs and restaurants are contributing to this year’s event. Attendees can choose a handcrafted bowl to take home and taste a variety of bowl-friendly fare, such as soups and desserts.

The celebration, co-sponsored by GM Financial and Albertsons/Tom Thumb, runs from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. VIP guests have access to the event 30 minutes early, giving them a head start on the Empty Bowls festivities. Ticket prices are $150 for VIPs and $60 for general admission.

Contributing artists include Pam Summers, Pam Stern, Raymond Raines, Janet Rodriguez, David Sieja, Holly Mack and more. A few notable restaurants contributing to this year’s event include Bird Café, Mariposa Latin Kitchen, Grace/Little Red Wasp, Bonnell’s and Terra Mediterranean Grill. For a complete listing of participating artists and restaurants, visit the Empty Bowls event page.

Empty Bowls guests also experience special demonstrations by local glass blowers, wood turners and potters, plus a Celebrity Bowls Live Auction, Silent Auction and raffle featuring unique and exciting items like a seven-day Caribbean cruise and an amazing array of 2-D and 3-D art.

Two new features have been added to this year’s Empty Bowls:

• A PopUp Shop with one-of-a-kind, handmade merchandise will make its premier, offering mugs, vases, plates and more;
• A Canstruction made with over 15,000 cans of tuna will be available for photo opportunities. After the event, the tuna will be distributed through TAFB’s network of 270 Partner Agencies in their 13-county service area.

“This year promises to be more fun, more exciting, and more successful than ever before,” said Ruth Ann Kearley, chair of Empty Bowls for the past three years. “Our goal is to provide funding for 1.6 million meals to feed the hungry in our community.”

Tickets to Empty Bowls may be purchased at tafb.org/events or by calling 817-857-7137.