KW Legacy: Top Home Chef Fundraiser Media Kit
KW LEGACY: TOP HOME CHEF FUNDRAISER 2025
SUPPORTING MEN'S MENTAL HEALTH AND STUDENT SCHOLARSHIPS
DATE: MAY 4, 2024
LOCATION ST. GEORGE’S HALL, WATERLOO.
SUMBMMITED BY ROHITH REGHU.
Fact Sheet
KW Legacy
About Us
KW Legacy was founded in 2014 to start charity initiatives with its founder's network.
Motto: “Good Friends, Greater Deeds.”
Mission: Empower future leaders through scholarships and address critical social
issues.
Key Events:
Annual Golf Tournament: Raised $890,000+ (2014–2023).
Top Home Chef: Raised $105,000+ (2018–2023).
Scholarships: 100+ awarded ($5,000 each) to Waterloo Region students since 2016.
2025 Focus: Expand support to homelessness via affordable housing partnerships.
Website: kwlegacy.ca | Donate: kwlegacy.ca/donate
Top Home Chef 2025 Event
Details
Impact & Milestones
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024 | 4:00
PM – 9:00 PM
Location: St. George’s Hall, 665
King St. N, Waterloo.
Tickets: 125(individual),200
(couple), $1,000 (table of 10).
Features:
50 home chefs competing for
the “Top Home Chef” title.
Judges: Celebrity chefs Nick
Benninger, Chef D, Dana Shortt.
Silent auction, raffle prizes, live
music.
Goal: Raise $75,000+ for
scholarships + Waterloo Region
homelessness initiatives.
Total Funds Raised: $1.2M+
since 2014.
Scholarship Recipients: 100+
students from 15 local high
schools.
New Focus: Address
homelessness (5,000+
individuals in Waterloo
Region).
Future Plans: Grade 8
scholarships, endowment
funds, mentorship programs.
Work With US
Rohith Reghu, Media Relations | media@kwlegacy.ca | 555-123-4567
Website: www.kwlegacy.ca | Social: @Legacy_KW
Backgrounder
KW Legacy
History and Mission
KW Legacy began in 2014 as a grassroots effort by friends aiming to fund
scholarships for local students. Their inaugural golf tournament raised
100,000,establishingamodelofzero−overheadcharitywhere100100,000,establishin
gamodelofzero−overheadcharitywhere10045,000 annually. Despite pandemic
setbacks, 2023’s hybrid events revived momentum, funding scholarships and new
homelessness initiative
Expanding Impact: Scholarships and Homelessness
KW Legacy’s scholarships target students who demonstrate leadership, financial
need, and community engagement. Recipients commit to “paying forward”
through mentorship. In 2024, the organization expands its mission, directing
proceeds to combat Waterloo’s homelessness crisis (5,000+ affected).
Partnerships with developers aim to build transitional housing, aligning with their
motto: “Good Friends, Greater Deeds.”
Work With US
Rohith Reghu, Media Relations | media@kwlegacy.ca | 555-123-4567
Website: www.kwlegacy.ca | Social: @Legacy_KW
Media Realese
KW Legacy
May 4, 2025
KW LEGACY’S TOP HOME CHEF FUNDRAISER RETURNS TO
TACKLE SCHOLARSHIPS AND HOMELESSNESS IN
WATERLOO REGION
Culinary Competition Features Local Celebrities, Silent Auction, and New Focus on Affordable Housing
Waterloo, ON — KW Legacy is proud to announce the return of its highly anticipated Top Home Chef
Fundraiser on Saturday, May 4, 2024, at St. George’s Hall in Waterloo. This year’s event will not only
fund scholarships for local students but also support KW Legacy’s new mission to combat
homelessness in Waterloo Region.
Since 2014, KW Legacy has raised over $1.2 million through its annual golf tournament and Top Home
Chef events, funding 100+ scholarships for deserving students. In 2024, the organization expands its
impact, dedicating a portion of proceeds to develop affordable housing solutions for the region’s
5,000+ individuals experiencing homelessness.
Event Highlights:
50 Home Chefs: Compete for the title of Top Home Chef, judged by culinary stars like Chef D, Dana
Shortt, and Nick Benninger.
Tasting Gala: Sample gourmet dishes while bidding in a silent auction with prizes like vacation
packages and local dining experiences.
New Cause: 30% of proceeds will fund partnerships with builders to create transitional housing.
Tickets are $125/person, $200/couple, or $1,000 for a table of 10 (available at
kwlegacy.ca/tickets).
Quote from KW Legacy Chair, Mark Thompson:
“This year, we’re cooking up more than great food—we’re building futures. With scholarships and
affordable housing, KW Legacy is tackling two critical challenges in our community. We invite everyone
to join us for a night of flavor and philanthropy.”
Media Opportunities:
Interview KW Legacy founders, judges, or past scholarship recipients.
Film/photo access to chefs, judges, and the live auction.
Exclusive preview of 2025’s affordable housing project plans.
Event Details:
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2025
Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: St. George’s Hall, 665 King St. N, Waterloo
Website: kwlegacy.ca/topchef
About KW Legacy:
Founded in 2014, KW Legacy empowers Waterloo Region through scholarships and community
initiatives. With zero administrative overhead, 100% of donations fund local causes. Learn more at
kwlegacy.ca.
Work With US
Rohith Reghu, Media Relations | media@kwlegacy.ca | 555-123-4567
Website: www.kwlegacy.ca | Social: @Legacy_KW
MEDIA PITCH TO RADIO
KW Legacy
CityNews 570 (CKGL-AM) | Rogers Sports & Media
Subject: Local Heroes & Foodies Unite: KW Legacy’s Top Home Chef Returns to Fight Homelessness
To: Dave Bossy (dave.bossy@kitchenerradio.rogers.com), Christa Hicks (christa.hicks@rci.rogers.com)
Hi Dave & Christa,
I hope you’re both doing well! My name is Rohith Reghu, Media Coordinator for KW Legacy, and I’m
reaching out with an inspiring local story perfect for CityNews 570’s spring programming.
KW Legacy’s Top Home Chef fundraiser—a beloved community event supporting scholarships and now
homelessness initiatives—returns on May 4 at St. George’s Hall. After a pandemic hiatus, last year’s
relaunch raised $60,000, and this year, we’re adding a critical new cause: funding affordable housing for
Waterloo’s 5,000+ unhoused residents.
Why This Matters for Your Audience:
✅ Human Connection: Meet Sarah Mitchell, a 2023 scholarship recipient studying social work at Laurier.
Her scholarship saved her from dropping out—now she’s volunteering at the event to help others.
✅ Local Celebrities: Judges include Chef D and Police Chief Bryan Larkin (a past competitor!).
✅ Urgent Cause: 30% of proceeds will fund partnerships to build transitional housing—a growing need in
Waterloo.
We’d love to arrange an interview with KW Legacy’s founder, Mike Denomme, or 2023 scholarship
winner Sarah Mitchell. They can discuss:
How $125 tickets fund both scholarships and housing.
Stories of students like Sarah who’ve transformed their futures.
The “taste-off” competition featuring home chefs like Nick Benninger (yes, the Nick from Nick &
Sons!).
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Event Details:
Date: Saturday, May 4, 2024
Time: 4:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Location: St. George’s Hall, Waterloo
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Let me know if you’d like to secure a live remote broadcast spot or pre-recorded interviews. We’re
happy to share audio clips of past winners or Chef D’s judging banter!
Thanks for considering this community-driven story. Let’s cook up some hope together!
Best regards,
Rohith Reghu
Media Coordinator, KW Legacy
rohith.reghu@kwlegacy.ca | (555) 123-4567
MEDIA PITCH TO TV
KW Legacy
CTV Kitchener (CKCO-DT) | Bell Media
Subject: Visual Story: Top Home Chef Crowd Fights Homelessness – Live Shots & Chef D Interview
To: Gavin Mortimer (gavin.mortimer@bellmedia.ca)
Hi Gavin,
I hope you’re well! My name is Rohith Reghu, Media Coordinator for KW Legacy, and I’m pitching a vibrant,
visually rich story for CTV Kitchener about our Top Home Chef fundraiser on May 4.
Why CTV Viewers Will Care:
Star Power: Local celeb judges like Chef Scotty and Dana Shortt (Dana Shortt Gourmet) tasting dishes.
Drama: Watch home chefs—including firefighters, teachers, and past scholarship winners—compete for
the “Top Home Chef” title.
Impact: For the first time, proceeds will fund affordable housing projects, tackling Waterloo’s
homelessness crisis.
Exclusive Opportunity:
We’d love CTV to capture:
Behind-the-scenes footage: Chef D judging a dish made by 2022 winner Maria Gomez (now a culinary
student!).
Silent Auction Highlights: Trips, dining packages, and a signed Maple Leafs jersey.
Founder Interview: KW Legacy’s Mike Denomme can discuss the shift to housing support and its
urgency.
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Event Details:
Date: Saturday, May 4
Time: 4:00 PM (red carpet arrivals), judging starts at 5:30 PM
Location: St. George’s Hall, Waterloo
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Let me know if you’d like to reserve a crew spot or schedule an interview. We’re also happy to share Broll from last year’s event.
Looking forward to collaborating!
Best,
Rohith Reghu
Media Coordinator, KW Legacy
rohith.reghu@kwlegacy.ca | (555) 123-4567
MEDIA PITCH TO PRINT/ONLINE
KW Legacy
Subject: From Scholarships to Shelter: How a Cooking Competition Became Waterloo’s Lifeline
To: Garima [garima@waterloochronicle.ca]
Hi Garima,
In 2018, KW Legacy launched Top Home Chef to fund scholarships. In 2024, it’s tackling homelessness—
and the story behind this evolution is one your readers will savor.
Key Angles for Your Publication:
Human Triumph: Profile James Carter, a 2020 scholarship recipient who lived in his car while studying
at Conestoga College. Now a nurse, he’s competing this year to “pay it forward.”
Community Recipes: Feature dishes from past winners (e.g., Chief Bryan Larkin’s “arresting” chili!).
Housing Crisis: KW Legacy’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity Waterloo to build transitional
housing
.
Event Highlights:
Date: May 4, 2024 | 4:00 PM
Location: St. George’s Hall
Tickets: $125/person (sold at kwlegacy.ca/tickets)
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Exclusive Offer:
Press passes for live coverage.
Interviews with founder Mike Denomme, judges, or James Carter.
✅
✅
Let’s craft a story that blends food, philanthropy, and Waterloo’s fight for equity.
Cheers,
Rohith Reghu
Media Coordinator, KW Legacy
rohith.reghu@kwlegacy.ca | (555) 123-4567
VISUALS DECK
Contact Details
Mike Denomme (Co-Founder):,mike@kwlegacy.ca, 555-1234.
Rohith Reghu (Media Relations):media@kwlegacy.ca, 555-5678.
Advisory Chair: Denise Kelly, denise@kwlegacy.ca,548 397 366
MEDIA KIT 2025
ROHITH REGHU, Media
Relations, KW Legacy KW
Legacy, 605 St Anton Ct,
Waterloo, ON N2V 2M8
548-577-398
kwlegacy.ca
KW LEGACY