Guy Fieri and 38 Star Chefs Raise Over $1.5 Million for Maui at Intimate Dinner — See Inside (Exclusive)

Guy Fieri threw the “ultimate frat party” — and it was all for a good cause.

The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives star and 38 of his chef friends hosted a “Chefs for Maui” fundraiser dinner Saturday to raise more than $1.5 million for the Hawaii Restaurant Association and the Salvation Army Hawaiian and Pacific Islands Division following the August wildfires. At a private estate in Sonoma County, California, the culinary stars served up an 18-course dinner with dishes like porcini soup, kanpachi poke, and a 3.5 lb. tomahawk steak. Yellowstone creator of Taylor Sheridan’s 6666 Ranch.

Sheridan cooked with Fieri, rock band Portugal the Man performed, Marc Summers was the MC and Franco Finn was the auctioneer. The auction items — put together by Fieri’s wife Lori and her friends — included donated items like a Ryvid motorcycle, Yellowstone hosted visit and dinner for 10 anywhere in the world by Stephanie Izard, Joe Sasto and Shota Nakajima.

Guy Fieri and his sons serve more than 500 meals at the Special Olympics of Northern California

Chefs for Maui Fundraiser.

Anders Krusberg

“I’m at this point in my life now where my biggest goal is what I can do with what I have for others,” Fieri tells PEOPLE exclusively.

When the Food Network star came up with the idea to host an event with his Guy Fieri Foundation, he texted 50 friends and it was “like a slot machine went off.”

Taylor Sheridan and Guy Fieri.

Courtesy of Guy Fieri

“I’m in, I’m in. I’ll be there. I’ll be there,” he recalls his chef friends replying. “Not one person batted an eyelid when I asked them to help or get involved.”

Michael Voltaggio, Brooke Williamson, Kelsey Barnard Clark, Mei Lin and Antonia Lofaso are just some of the big names that have participated.

Mick Fleetwood’s Hawaii restaurant burned down during the Maui wildfire

Chefs for Maui Fundraiser.

Anders Krusberg

“I don’t think there’s ever been a collective of so many chefs for so many people, with so many dishes for this dire need at one time,” Fieri said the morning of the event. “I think it will be one of the most sensational events ever to happen in the food world.”

And that was it. Through $2,500 tickets and live and silent auctions, the fundraiser is able to provide money to displaced natives and some 80 restaurants that burned during the devastating Lahaina fires.

Chefs for Maui Fundraiser.

Anders Krusberg

“It’s a hug. It’s like, ‘Hey, brothers and sisters in business, we understand you. We appreciate you. We know you’re hurting.’ That’s it,” Fieri tells PEOPLE.

Hawaii is close to Fieri’s heart. “I have filmed in over 16 locations in Maui for my shows, and I travel to Maui with my family year after year for vacation. It’s such a special place, and what makes it special are the people,” he told PEOPLE in August. “To think about those people who love their island, love their families, and make visitors feel welcome, we have to stop what we do and are doing everything we can to help them.”

The Guy Fieri Foundation will continue to collect donations to help Maui on its website.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education