LEWISBURG — With total funds reaching over $63,000 after expenses, this year’s Cookin’ Men fundraiser is the most successful in its history.

The annual event to benefit Evangelical Community Hospital’s Thyra M. Humphreys Center for Breast Health surpassed the 2021 event by more than $10,000. Participating chefs raised $32,952 — just over half the total — through the voting process alone, Evangelical announced in a recent press release.

The Center for Breast Health uses the funds raised from Cookin’ Men to provide financial assistance to women in the community who are un- or under-insured and need breast health screenings, the release said.

“The event brings together local celebrity men and women as chefs and chef teams to create culinary delights for people to enjoy while raising funds,” according to the press release. “Those who attended were treated to tasting-sized bites of appetizers, main dishes and desserts. New this year was a hospitality VIP reception where attendees were treated to a tasting and pairing menu prepared by the Rusty Rail executive chefs –100 tickets were available for the additional experience, which was a near sell-out at this year’s event.”

Pushing the fundraising over the top this year was the competitive drive toward being named Top Chef, which awarded the winner the coveted Pink Whisk Award and the premiere cooking station at the event, which was held at Rusty Rail Brewing Company in Mifflinburg, the release said.

The contest, which challenged each chef to individually garner the most donations for the Center for Breast Health, ended at noon the day of the event, Oct. 27.

Declared Top Chef were Eric John and Paul John Jr., of Rusty Rail, who raised $7,745 by the deadline. The brothers prepared vegetarian chili for guests to enjoy.

Top Chef runners up were Rick Schuck, of Bot’s Tavern, with $6,795 and the team of Angela Hess and Adam Bowersox, of Rusty Rail, with $3,271.

Other top fundraisers included Jim Carpenter and Jared Frank, of Mojo Active Inc.; Dr. James Patterson and Joseph Haber, of Family Medicine of Evangelical and Tomahawks Tacos; Dr. Todd Stefan, of the Heart and Vascular Center of Evangelical; Paul Burkholder, of Furmano Foods; Lewisburg Mayor Kendy Alvarez and Nikki Krize, of WNEP; Braden Klinger, of Bull Run Tap House; Bob Garrett, Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce; and Matthew Walsh and Matthew van Leeuwe, of Geisinger, who raised $1,000 or more.

“We are so grateful for events like these that help women in need stay on top of their breast screenings,” said Andrea Bertram, operational director of Women’s Health and Cancer Services. “It is through the generous support of others that we can make it possible for women in our area to make their breast health a priority. When we can diagnose breast cancer early, we are able to help our patients achieve high cure rates and walk with them through survivorship.”

The approximately 300 attendees of the event also voted for their favorite dish by sampling all of the options and casting their vote.

“For the first time ever, one chef swept both the favorite dish and best flair categories,” the press release said. “Dr. Kenneth Jusko, Quantum Imaging and Therapeutic Services, along with his wife, Corey, took home the prizes for both. They provided the crowd with homemade apple strudel with salted caramel ice cream and served it in their over-the-top balloon-enveloped tent complete with pink disco ball, lights and music.”

The Thyra M. Humphreys Center for Breast Health at Evangelical has a dedicated team of specialists who provide comprehensive care including screenings, diagnosis, and treatment for women. The care doesn’t stop there, after diagnosis the Center offers survivors support through clinics, programs, and one-on-one attention with professionals trained to understand the psychological, physical, emotional, and social effects of a cancer diagnosis.

For more information about the Center for Breast Health and the services available, call 570-522-4200.