Eat, Drink and Support the Future of Hospitality!

The Ryan Wells Foundation is making dreams come true, turning Pinellas County culinary students into local celebrity chefs at the 19th Annual Evening with the Chefs, considered one of the top culinary tasting events in Tampa Bay. The event will be hosted at the Sheraton Sand Key Hotel, May 3rd, 2024 from 6:30pm-9:30pm.

Founded in 2005, The Ryan Wells Foundation continues to provide financial support, encouragement, opportunities, and resources for Pinellas County Culinary Students to become tomorrow’s industry leaders and philanthropists. Named after an aspiring young chef from Tarpon Springs High School, The Ryan Wells Foundation continually supports the culinary programs and students of Hollins High, Northeast High, Lealman Innovation Academy, Bayside High, Osceola Fundamental High, Tarpon Springs High and Clearwater and Pinellas Technical College.

Ryan Wells’ culinary instructors at Tarpon High remember him as the first one in the classroom, heating up the ovens, eager for more time to cook and learn. There are countless other students just like Ryan, with the same passion to cook and give back to the community. With the help of many supporters, his dreams, cut short when his young life was taken in 2005, are now fulfilled through other students benefiting from The Ryan Wells Foundation.
“While we lost Ryan nearly 19 years ago, we have gained the friendship of countless students, teachers, hospitality industry partners and supporters across Tampa Bay” stated the Wells family. “Nothing makes us prouder to know that Ryan has helped students grow during high school and excel beyond, as a college student, a culinarian and hopefully, a philanthropist in their respective community” they continued.

Evening with the Chefs is designed for the culinary students of Pinellas County to realize their dreams of pursuing careers in the hospitality industry. Working alongside the best chefs in the region, the students help prepare delectable appetizers, entrees, and desserts. Evening with the Chefs will also feature wine, spirits, craft beers, music and a live and silent auction all supporting the mission of providing student scholarships for post-secondary education in hospitality and the culinary arts, and donations to the school culinary programs throughout Pinellas County.

Tickets are $160 per person and can be purchased through the Foundation’s website. All proceeds support the Foundation and the local community through scholarships and educational opportunities directly gifted to the local culinary students. This year there is an added opportunity to assist the growing food insecurity issue in Tampa Bay with an optional gift to Feeding Tampa Bay when purchasing an “Evening with the Chefs” ticket.