Last night, Ba Bay played host to a pre-Taste of the Nation banh mi smackdown to raise money for Share Our Strength, an organization that fights childhood hunger. The competition pitted chefs from Ba Bay, Dino, Lyon Hall, Proof, PS7’s and The Source against each other to see who could create the best banh mi.
After an initial tie between Proof and host Ba Bay, Proof’s Haidar Karoum was pronounced the winner with his sandwich of Brad’s pork shank, pork roll and five spice roast shoulder on ciabatta. But in my eyes, the real winner of the night was Share Our Strength. Unlike many D.C. fundraisers that start at around $100 and quickly escalate from there, tickets for last night’s event were priced at a more reasonable $25. So it was hardly surprising that this relatively small event sold out within hours of its announcement.
Other charities should take note that by hosting an event with a lower cost of entry, they open themselves up to a less traditional group of donors that may not have the means to afford or justify pricier events. That was definitely reflected by those in attendance; it was difficult to spot anyone over the age of 40. Even though organizing the event may require as much work as a pricier event and with the potential for less return, it gives the charity the opportunity to establish long-term relationships with these individuals. And those relationships may lead to bigger donations in the future as their income increases. While it would be obviously be more ideal and efficient if people donated money directly rather than having to be enticed through an event, we don’t always live in an ideal world. As Robert Egger of D.C. Central Kitchen recently said, “We convince our young people that they should make money first and then donate it later. It’s a trap.” It’s events like these that help change that mentality.
Tickets are still available for Taste of the Nation on April 4 at the National Building Museum. They are $95 for general admission, and $150 for VIP early admission. And if you missed the Banh Mi Smackdown this year, Ba Bay’s Denise Nguyen told me they’re hoping on hosting another one next year.
