(Photo: Eric Vitale Photography)
Over 130 Culinary Icons, Restaurateurs and Athletes Raise Enough to Help City Harvest Feed More Than Two Million New Yorkers In Need
NEW YORK, NY (August 11, 2026) – The 7th Annual Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Tournament brought together over 300 guests, including 130 celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and athletes, to raise critical funds for City Harvest, the city’s first and largest food rescue organization on Monday, August 3rd at the prestigious Montclair Golf Club in West Orange, NJ. The event, produced by Herb Karlitz, Founder of the renowned Karlitz & Company and dedicated philanthropist, broke all previous records raising enough to help feed more than 2 million New Yorkers in need.
While rain forced the Karlitz team to pivot, creating an indoor golf clinic led by two of the Top 100 Golf Instructors, Jason Birnbaum and Jonathan Yarwood, the unexpected change transformed the day into an even more vibrant celebration of food, sports and philanthropy. Guests gathered for an expanded culinary festival featuring dishes from some of the country’s most acclaimed chefs, along with golf simulations and lessons, indoor tennis and pickleball games, and an impromptu performance by Ja Rule, creating an unforgettable day that underscored City Harvest’s mission to help feed New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity.
“Even though rain forced the cancellation of the golf tournament, it couldn’t dampen the spirit of the day. We had prepared for every scenario, closely monitoring the forecast and staying in constant communication with participants throughout the week leading up to the event. More than 130 celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, winemakers, purveyors, and athletes came together to enjoy golf lessons and simulations, tennis, pickleball, extraordinary cuisine, handcrafted cocktails, and cult wines. At the end of the day, it’s not about the golf or tennis. Everyone showed up because they understand fighting food insecurity isn’t contingent on the weather. We still have one in four kids not knowing if they will have dinner tonight,” said Founder Herb Karlitz.
The exciting day welcomed Golf Chair, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi (Tatiana, Kwame’s Patty Palace, Dōgon, Las’ Lap, and Maroon), Tennis Chairs Simon Kim (Gracious Hospitality Management, COTE, COQODAQ) and Chef Kerry Heffernan (Crew, Grand Banks), Culinary Chair Chef Alex Lee (Liberty National Golf Club) along with special guest Patrick McEnroe, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
Guests enjoyed tastings from renowned restaurants including COTE Korean Steakhouse, La Tête d’Or, Rao’s, and Golden Steer, alongside freshly shaved Italian truffles and Black Diamond Caviar. Fine wines were poured from certified sommeliers and vintners including Simon Buck (Te Mata Estate Winery), Rita Jammet (La Caravelle), Nikita Malhotra (La Paulée), Sabrina Schatz (pouring with Hourglass Vineyards), Bill Schlissel (Blackbird Vineyards), Victoria James (Gracious Hospitality Management, and pouring Dana Estates), and Hugo Wai (Roscioli).
Celebrities from the worlds of sports, music, and cuisine attended the event including chefs Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster, Vibe BBQ), Geoffrey Zakarian (Food Network), Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto, Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto), David Shim (COTE Korean Steakhouse), Emma Bengtsson (Aquavit), Dino Gatto (Rao’s), Cosme Aguilar (Casa Enrique), Rocco DiSpirito (Bar Rocco), Mark Strausman (Mark’s Off Madison), and Josh Capon (Capon’s Chophouse).
The celebration concluded with an impromptu performance by Ja Rule, who had the crowd singing along to his biggest hits, including the New York Knicks anthem, “New York.”
All proceeds from the Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis and Pickleball Tournament directly benefit City Harvest’s mission to rescue and deliver nutritious food, free of charge, to New Yorkers in need. Every dollar raised helps provide a full day’s worth of food for two of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Key sponsors include Ernst & Young, LLP (EY), Cantor Fitzgerald, Meat & Livestock Australia, Liberty National Foundation, S. Pellegrino, Resorts World New York City, Afficionado Coffee Roasters, Callaway, Greg Norman, Schweid & Sons, Seraphim Social Beverage, Greek Goddess Granola, Tito’s Handmade Vodka. In-kind sponsors and specialty purveyors include Acme Smoked Fish, Amber & Opal, Angel’s Envy, Black Diamond Caviar, Burlap & Barrel Single Origin Spices, Civil Pleasures, Glasvin, La Española Olive Oil, Like Air Puffcorn, No. 3 London Dry Gin, The Macallan, Real Del Valle Tequila, Ten To One Caribbean Rum, Pretzelized Snacks, Stretch Recovery, Uncle Waithley’s Ginger Beer, and YETI.
About City Harvest
City Harvest is New York City’s first and largest food rescue organization. We rescue nutritious, high-quality food that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it for free to hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, community partners, and our own Mobile Markets® across the five boroughs. In response to the urgent and ongoing demand for food assistance and a commitment to sustainability, this year we will rescue nearly 90 million pounds of food and deliver it to New Yorkers experiencing food insecurity. With deep connections to the communities where we work and with a focus on localized investment, City Harvest is dedicated to strengthening our network of agency partners and the local food system through capacity building, advocacy, and nutrition education. Through our food rescue model, we support environmental health—this year, we will prevent the equivalent of more than 25.4 million kilograms of CO2 from entering the atmosphere—while providing New Yorkers with the food they need to thrive. City Harvest is recognized as a leading equity-driven organization and has been named one of America’s Top 100 Charities by Forbes. Since our founding in 1982, we have rescued more than one billion pounds of food and provided it for free to our neighbors in need. To learn more, visit cityharvest.org.
About Karlitz & Company
For nearly 40 years, Karlitz & Company has shaped elevated brand moments through culinary mastery and refined hospitality. By convening world-class talent and discerning audiences, we create immersive environments that drive distinction and lasting influence. We have conceived, planned, and produced thousands of experiences for clients including American Express, Marriott Bonvoy, Resy, Breeders’ Cup, EY, Merrill Lynch, Autism Speaks, and WhyHunger, among others.
