Maybe it's too hot in mid-July to run for a cause, or even walk for one. But everyone has to eat, right? That's the idea behind 1,000 Cooks for the Cure, part of an ongoing partnership between Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and KitchenAid that has raised nearly $7 million for the fight against breast cancer.

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From July 16-18, home cooks can join such notables as cooking show host Jacques Pepin and Komen for the Cure founder/CEO Nancy Brinker by hosting anything from a Friday office or dessert party to a weekend barbecue or potluck dinner to support the cause. The fundraising part of the equation is simplicity itself; instead of bringing flowers, wine or other gifts, guests are asked to show their appreciation by making a donation to the cause.

"This initiative, part of our broader Cook for the Cure program, allows cooks to throw their own fundraising party in a way that makes it easy for friends and family to participate," said Katrina McGhee, Susan G. Komen for the Cure senior vice president, global business development and partnerships. "During a prime weekend for summer entertaining, this is a simple add-on that could really make a difference."

Pepin is among many food world celebrities - from Mario Batali and Bobby Flay to Lidia Bastianich and Emeril Lagasse - to support Cook for the Cure.

Those interested in hosting a party are encouraged to visit http://cookforthecure.com/ to register and obtain a unique host identification number. Registered hosts will be given access to an information kit that includes party ideas, recipes and donation gathering information. To help hosts connect with guests and others planning parties, KitchenAid has added 1,000 Cooks for the Cure as an event on its Facebook page http://facebook.com/KitchenAid and is providing updates via Twitter @KitchenAidUSA in the days leading up to the event.

Those who register to host a party at http://cookforthecure.com/ and raise a minimum of $50 will be sent a Pass the Plate serving platter created by Villeroy & Boch after the event by mail, upon receipt of the host's contribution, as a thank-you from Cook for the Cure. These individually numbered platters generate a $5 donation each time they are passed and registered by the recipient, generating funds long after the weekend parties are over. Using the unique registration code, participants can track the status and travels of their platters by visiting http://cookforthecure.com/ and clicking on the "Pass the Plate" tab on the right.

In support of the cause, KitchenAid also offers pink Cook for the Cure products via retailers and http://shopkitchenaid.com/. They include a pink Artisan Stand Mixer that generates a $50 donation when purchased and registered, as well as food processors, blenders, hand mixers and toasters that generate anywhere from $7 to $25 for the cause upon registration. Also available are mixing bowls, silicone baking pans and trivets and more than a dozen gadgets, ranging from spatulas and vegetable peelers to ice cream scoops and can openers.

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure®: Nancy G. Brinker promised her dying sister, Susan G. Komen, she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever. In 1982, that promise became Susan G. Komen for the Cure and launched the global breast cancer movement. Today, Komen for the Cure is the world's largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Komen Race for the Cure®, we have invested nearly $1.5 billion to fulfill our promise, becoming the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world. For more information about Susan G. Komen for the Cure, breast health or breast cancer, visit www.komen.org or call 1-877 GO KOMEN.

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SOURCE: KitchenAid