Nearly 130 Notable Chefs, Restaurateurs, and Athletes Join Forces With City Harvest to Address NYC Hunger Crisis
Monday, June 22, 2026, at Montclair Golf Club, West Orange, NJ
Golf legend Colin Montgomerie leads the effort alongside Special Guest Patrick McEnroe, Golf Chair Chef Kwame Onwuachi, Tennis Chairs Simon Kim and Kerry Heffernan, Shawn “Pecas” Costner, and many more.
Herb Karlitz, acclaimed event producer and philanthropist, announced today that the 7th Annual Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament will be held on Monday, June 22, 2026, at the prestigious Montclair Golf Club (25 Prospect Ave., West Orange, NJ). As food insecurity reaches record levels across New York City, nearly 130 celebrity chefs, restaurateurs, and athletes are coming together to support City Harvest, the city’s first and largest food rescue organization.
“This year’s tournament brings together iconic restaurants, from World’s 50 Best-ranked Tatiana and Gramercy Tavern to legendary institutions like Rao’s, Sylvia’s, and Barbuto, as well as hot newcomers including La Tête d’Or and Bar Rocco, to raise critical funds for City Harvest and help combat food insecurity. Our 2025 tournament raised enough for City Harvest to help feed 1.5 million New Yorkers in need,” said Herb Karlitz, event founder and executive producer.
Hosted by golf legend Colin Montgomerie, who holds the record with eight European Tour Order of Merit titles, and featuring tennis host Patrick McEnroe, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, this signature Karlitz & Company event unites renowned chefs, athletes, and celebrities for a one-of-a-kind celebration of sport and gastronomy. Leading the all-star lineup of chefs is this year’s golf chair, acclaimed chef Kwame Onwuachi (Tatiana, Kwame’s Patty Palace, Dōgon, Las’ Lap, Maroon), alongside tennis chairs Simon Kim, restaurant operator (COTE/COQODAQ), and Chef Kerry Heffernan (Grand Banks). Joining them are celebrity chefs Marcus Samuelsson (Red Rooster, Vibe BBQ), Geoffrey Zakarian (Food Network Star), Michael Anthony (Gramercy Tavern), Jonathan Waxman (Barbuto), David Shim (COTE Korean Steakhouse), Emma Bengtsson (Aquavit), Dino Gatto (Rao’s), Cosme Aguilar (Casa Enrique), Andy Choi (Gabriel Kreuther), Rocco DiSpirito (Bar Rocco), Brother Luck (Four by Brother Luck), Mark Straussman (Mark’s Off Madison), Josh Capon (Capon’s Chophouse) and more.
Celebrity participants bringing star power to the tournament include two-time Super Bowl Champion Justin Tuck, Super Bowl winner Victor Cruz, Chris Young (former professional baseball player), country music singer Jenn Wayne, and hip-hop icon Ja Rule.
“I am honored to serve as a host of this year’s golf tournament and to support efforts to help feed families who aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from,” said Colin Montgomerie. “We all need to do our part in society and make a difference by helping each other.”
“Right now, nearly 50% of working-aged New Yorkers are not able to afford the basic cost of living in our city, forcing many to make impossible choices such as paying rent or buying groceries. At the same time, many of our neighbors are beginning to feel the impact of federal cuts to food assistance programs and are turning to food pantries for support,” said Jilly Stephens, City Harvest’s Chief Executive Officer. “Thanks to the support of the Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis, and Pickleball Tournament, we will ensure that families across the city have access to the fresh, nutritious foods that they need to thrive.”
Described as a food and wine festival that happens to take place on a golf course and tennis courts, attendees can mingle with their favorite top chefs and athletes during the tournaments, as well as indulge in gourmet cuisine prepared by some of New York City’s finest culinary talents. The golf course and tennis courts will feature an array of celebrity chef-led culinary activations, culminating in the acclaimed post-tournament reception. Guests will enjoy tastings from renowned restaurants, including COTE Korean Steakhouse, La Tête d’Or, Red Rooster, and Sylvia’s Restaurant, alongside freshly shaved Italian truffles and Black Diamond caviar. Fine wines will be poured by certified sommeliers and vintners including Simon Buck (Te Mata Estate Winery), Rita Jammet (La Caravelle), Nikita Malhotra (La Paulée), Amy Racine (JF Restaurants), Sabrina Schatz (pouring with Hourglass), Bill Schissel (Blackbird Vineyards), Ian Smedley (COQODAQ, pouring Dana Estates), Jeff Smith (Hourglass Vineyards) and Hugo Wai (Rosciol).
Patrick McEnroe, President of the International Tennis Hall of Fame, former professional player, commentator, and former captain of the U.S. Davis Cup team, said, “I am thrilled to return to the Celebrity Chefs & Friends event to support such an incredible mission of feeding those in need, while also celebrating my love of tennis alongside fellow enthusiasts for a truly unforgettable event.”
“We are proud to unite some of the most talented individuals in the culinary and sports worlds for a cause that affects too many of our neighbors,” said Karlitz. “The culinary community has always demonstrated an extraordinary spirit of generosity. Beyond creating unforgettable dining experiences, these chefs dedicate their time and talents to helping their neighbors in need. Their ongoing support of City Harvest showcases a shared commitment to fighting food insecurity across New York City.”
All proceeds from the Celebrity Chefs & Friends Golf, Tennis & Pickleball Tournament will directly benefit City Harvest’s efforts to rescue and deliver nutritious food to New Yorkers in need for free. With every dollar raised, City Harvest can provide food for a day for two of our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.
Key sponsors include Ernst & Young, LLP (EY), Cantor Fitzgerald, Meat & Livestock Australia, S. Pellegrino, Resorts World, Afficionado Coffee Roasters, Callaway, Greg Norman, Schweid & Sons, Seraphim Social Beverage, Greek Goddess Granola, Angel’s Envy, Real Del Valle, No. 3 Gin, Macallan, Ten To One Rum, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Uncle Waithley’s and Amber & Opal. In-kind sponsors include Burlap & Barrel, Glasvin, La Española Olive Oil, Like Air Puffcorn, Pretzelized, Stretch Recovery, 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, and 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, Delta, Resy, EY, Merrill Lynch, WhyHunger, and World Wide Technology, among others. To learn more, visit karlitz.com.
