AIDS Resource Center Ohio announced today that the Honorary Chair of their 2015 AIDS Walk/Run/Ride will be Ted Allen, host of the hit primetime Food Network series “Chopped.”
“Chopped” is a cooking competition series that pits four chefs against each other for a chance to win $10,000. Mr. Allen was previously a judge on the first four seasons of Bravo’s “Top Chef” and Food Network’s “Iron Chef of America,” and was the food and wine specialist on the groundbreaking Emmy® Award winning Bravo series “Queer Eye.”
“I am delighted to be named Honorary Chair of AIDS Walk Ohio and look forward to joining the fight against HIV/AIDS in Ohio,” said Mr. Allen. “We need to continue to strive to ensure that people with HIV have access to treatment and services so they can live long, healthy lives. We also need to remain vigilant in working to prevent new HIV infections here in Ohio and across the U.S.”
Off camera, Mr. Allen is a writer and a frequent contributor to Bon Appétit, Epicurious and the Food Network Magazine. Ted won a 2012 James Beard Award for his work hosting “Chopped” the show itself also received a Beard for best in-studio program. He was also a finalist for a National Magazine Award for an Esquire feature on the little-known phenomenon of male breast cancer.
Mr. Allen was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. To help raise pledges for AIDS Walk Ohio, Mr. Allen will join participants who raise $1,000 or more in the Grand Walker Breakfast in Columbus on Saturday, April 18 and the Grand Walker/Grand Rider Brunch in Dayton on Sunday, April 19. Eligible Toledo participants will be able to participate in the Dayton Brunch.
The 2015 AIDS Walk Greater Dayon will take place on Sunday, April 19, 2015 in Dayton. This year’s tri-city walk/run/ride is slated to be the largest HIV/AIDS awareness event in Ohio. The mission of AIDS Walk Greater Dayton is to raise awareness and funds for HIV/AIDS service organizations through education and promotional activities leading up to the event and through the participation of corporations, walkers, runners, riders civic leaders and community members together in this annual event. Dayton AIDS Walk coordinator Jen Dean shared, “the goal for this year’s event is 500 participants and $115,000 in funds for HIV/AIDS services. To register and start fundraising today, please visit www.aidswalkohio.org.