A Huge Thanks to our Incredible Sponsors for Cooking up Change!

High school culinary students celebrate their win in the healthy school lunch category at Cooking up Change.

Cooking up Change relies, first and foremost, on the incredible efforts of students to craft winning meals that their peers will love. But we also rely heavily on another group -- just as dedicated and passionate about the Cooking up Change cause -- our sponsors. This group of amazing businesses, organizations and individuals makes the contest possible, year after year. 

Their support ripples throughout the entire event -- from the smiles on students' faces to the gorgeous location where we gather. This support creates a platform for students to shine -- and for that, we can't thank them enough. 

Today, we reach out with heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, at all levels:

Chicago Sponsors

Premier sponsor

• Chartwells-Thompson Hospitality

Patron sponsor

• Preferred Meal Systems, Inc.

Champion sponsor

• Asian Food Solutions, Inc.
• Organic Life
• School Health

Official Education Partner

• Chicago Public Schools Office of Pathways to College and Career Culinary

Scholarship Sponsor

• Washburne Culinary Institute

Leader

• Cristina Foods, Inc.

Partners

• Harris myCFO
• Illinois Federation of Teachers
• Perkins + Will
• Quest Food Management Services, Inc.

Advocates

• Alper Services LLC
• Institute for America's Health
• Cabot Creamery Cooperative
• Kellogg's
• New Leaf Paper
• PolPress, Inc.
• Revolution Foods
• R.S. Owens
• Schiff Hardin LLC
• SEIU Local 1
• SEIU State Council
• Testa Produce
• US Foods
• Urban Health Initiative of the University of Chicago Medical Center

Supporters

• Tammy and Ted Becker
• Illinois State University
• William and Sara Porter
• Rick and Donna Yule

National Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

• American Federation of Teachers
• Chipotle Mexican Grill 

Official Travel Partner

• Southwest Airlines

Official Culinary Partner

• James Beard Foundation

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More info on our generous sponsors is here! 

Learn more:

• Read our Q&A with Cesar Dovalina, president of Cristina Foods.
• Read our Q&A with Chipotle representative Emily Francis.