World Class Chef Lorena Garcia Joins Cast of “Top Chef Masters” to Raise Money to Fight Childhood Obesity

(NEW YORK, N.Y.) July 30, 2012 – With 1 in 3 kids in America overweight or obese, Chef Lorena Garcia is determined to do her part to end the epidemic. Garcia is one of 12 competing chefs on “Top Chef Masters” and her selected charity partner is the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. Every American has a role to play and this season, for Garcia, its raising money in support of the fight against childhood obesity – in homes, schools and communities.

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters” airs Wednesdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT.   In each episode the winners of every quickfire challenge will be awarded $5,000 while the victors of the elimination challenges will receive $10,000 for their designated charities.

"I am so excited to be competing on Top Chef Masters on behalf of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation.  We share the same goal to educate families to make healthier choices and ultimately help reduce the childhood obesity rate in this country," said Lorena Garcia.

Venezuelan-born chef, restaurateur, TV host and author Lorena Garcia is one of the country’s leading Latina chefs.  A judge and investor on NBC’s “America’s Next Great Restaurant” and a guest chef on the season finale of Bravo’s “Top Chef All-Stars,” she’s a competitor on season four of Bravo’s “Top Chef Masters.”  In August 2012, she will open her second traveler’s restaurant, Lorena Garcia Tapas at the Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport, in the wake of her flagship Lorena Garcia Cocina in Miami.  With her recipes already featured in numerous magazines, Ballantine Books published her first cookbook last September, Lorena Garcia’s New Latin Classics.   

 “Lorena’s passion for cooking is inspiring, but her commitment to the health of future generations is what truly counts,” said Ginny Ehrlich, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. “We are incredibly grateful for her support of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. We can’t wait to cheer her on throughout the season.”

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation 

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation works to address one of the nation’s leading public health threats – childhood obesity. The goal of the Alliance is to reduce the nationwide prevalence of childhood obesity by 2015, and to empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices. Founded in 2005 by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation, the Alliance works to positively affect the places that can make a difference to a child’s health: homes, schools, doctor’s offices and communities. To learn more about the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, visit www. HealthierGeneration.org.

Contact:
Alliance for a Healthier Generation 
Megan McIntyre    
917-339-5250
[email protected]