School Superintendent Elia 'Cooking for a Cause' at Copper Bell Cafe

Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia is set to open the latest round of "Cooking for a Cause" at the in Brandon today. The June 18 celebrity chef offering will benefit the Hillsborough Education Foundation.

Elia is the second chef in this latest round of celebrity chefs, following State Rep. Rachel Burgin on June 11. Burgin's turn as a local-leader server netted her chosen charity, the Brandon Outreach Clinic, $1389.71, according to Darren Dennington, the proprietor of Copper Bell Cafe and president-elect for the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

Elia leads the way for celebrity chefs to follow: Jen Holloway and Tammy Bracewell (see their affiliations and chosen charities below). A complementary round of "Cooking for a Cause" will follow at the Copper Bell Cafe in Riverview, with celebrity chef Guy Boucher, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning, set to kick off that event.

Dennington said of the effort, now in its third year, that he is proud to have donated back to the community some $26,000 as a result of the first two years of Cooking for a Cause. With Burgin's effort, that total is now at $27,389.71, he said.

The aim is for each celebrity chef to draw to the Copper Bell Cafe on their designated day a large — and hungry — crowd. The event is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Also, orders can be phoned in, with free delivery by TakeOutButler.com.

The premise is simple: Dennington invites community local community leaders to serve as celebrity chefs on their designated day for the fundraiser. Dennington and his staff, sometimes with the aid of the celebrity chef, prepare the ingredients for the meals the night before.

All proceeds and gratuities from the day will be donated to the charity designated by the celebrity chef.

"I'm very proud of what our small cafe has been able to give to charities through this event," Dennington said. "It's been very well-received in the community."

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What To Know About Cooking for a Cause, June 18:

• Hillsborough County School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia will be cooking Italian Lasagna, served with Caesar salad and garlic bread.

• The cost is $10 and all proceeds and gratuities go to Elia's chosen charity, the Hillsborough Education Foundation.

• TakeOutButler.com is providing free delivery from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

• The event's title sponsor is Bright House Networks - Business Solutions.

• Copper Bell Cafe in Brandon is at 401 South Parsons Ave. Call: 813-681-3354. Fax in orders at 813-681-3353.

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The Cooking for a Cause III Lineup For Brandon:

• June 11 — State. Rep. Rachel Burgin. Her chosen charity: Brandon Outreach Clinic.

• June 18 — School Superintendent MaryEllen Elia. Her chosen charity: Hillsborough Education Foundation.

• June 25 — Jen Holloway, marketing director for Bright House Networks, the sponsor for this year's event. Her chosen charity: HARC, "one of the oldest and most-respected agencies serving people with disabilities in the Tampa Bay region."

• July 9 — Tammy Bracewell, president and chief executive officer of the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce. Her chosen charity: YMCA.

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The Cooking for a Cause III Lineup for Riverview:

• August 25 — Guy Boucher, head coach of the Tampa Bay Lightning. His chosen charity: Susan G. Komen 3-Day Breast Cancer Walk.

• To be announced, additional celebrity chefs for the Riverview location of the Copper Bell Cafe.

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