The FMI Foundation Presents: Stir It Up!

<p>By: Sue Borra, Chief Health and Wellness Officer for FMI and Executive Director of the FMI Foundation<br /> <img src="http://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/stir-it-up-demo-080.tmb-large-350-.jpg?sfvrsn=1" data-displaymode="Thumbnail" alt="Stir It Up" title="Stir It Up Demo 080" style="float: right; margin: 10px;" /></p> <p>Drum roll please! The <a href="http://www.fmi.org/foundation">FMI Foundation</a> is accenting the FUN in fundraising with our new event <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home"><em>Stir It Up!</em></a>, a lively cooking competition between food industry executives taking place January 29 at the <a href="http://www.fmi.org/midwinter-conference">2017 FMI Midwinter Executive Conference</a> in Scottsdale, Arizona.&nbsp; </p> <p>Retailer and supplier executives will draft all-star&nbsp;&ldquo;Demo Kitchen Station&rdquo; teams and compete for the bragging rights of dishing up the best family meal &mdash;breakfast, lunch or dinner&mdash;with the audience determining the winning menus.&nbsp; The sought-after grand prize will go to the kitchen team that raises the most money in support of the FMI Foundation&rsquo;s programs in food safety, nutrition and health.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p> <p><em>Stir it Up!</em> has multiple levels of participation from being a starlit Executive Chef Team Leader to simply purchasing a ticket and enjoying a fun evening supporting a great cause.&nbsp;Here are the top five things to know about this exciting new event: </p> <ol> <li>No suit, no tie required! Attire is business casual this year.</li> <li>Currently, <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stiritup"><em>Stir It Up!</em></a> has four <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home/sponsorship/executive-chef-level">Executive Chef level sponsors</a> each with their own Demo Kitchen Teams, hosted by Hy-Vee, Inc., Wakefern, Coca Cola, and Pepsico. These Teams will serve small &ldquo;tasting&rdquo; sizes dishes so you can vote for your favorite.</li> <li>In addition to the Demo Kitchens, there are many places throughout the <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home/sponsorship/sample-floor-plan">Palomino Ballroom</a> that you have to explore. Companies will be hosting Meet and Greet tables/areas throughout the room as places to network with their executives hosting each area.&nbsp; <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home/sponsorship">See all the <em>Stir It Up!</em> sponsorship options.</a></li> <li>Just want to attend? No problem! <a href="http://www.fmi.org/stir-it-up-home/buy-tickets">Purchase tickets</a> to the event so you don&rsquo;t miss out on all the action. </li> <li>It&rsquo;s all for a great cause! The FMI Foundation supports food safety, nutrition and health programs including food safety scholarships and <a href="http://www.fmi.org/family-meals">National Family Meals Month&trade;</a>. Your sponsorship and ticket dollars go to support this important work! </li> </ol> Learn more about <em>Stir It Up!</em> at <a href="http://www.fmi.org/StirItUp">www.fmi.org/StirItUp</a>. I look forward to seeing you all at this exciting new event sure to showcase Family Meals and the culinary side of the food retail industry.&nbsp;