What “The Taste’s” Marcus Samuelsson Is Doing to Help Victims of East Harlem Explosion
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Bravo(NEW YORK) — After a natural-gas explosion in New York City’s East Harlem last month that killed eight people and left 100 homeless, The Taste‘s Marcus Samuelsson, a Harlem resident and owner of Red Rooster Harlem, wanted to help the victims rebuild.
Samuelsson tells ABC News Radio what motivated him to host an upcoming fundraiser, Harlem Helps: A Benefit for the East Harlem Collapse, where he hopes to raise funds to benefit the families in need.
“I both live and work in Harlem. This accident happened five blocks away from my house,” Samuelsson says. “It was very much in my community…And I was like, ‘Wait a minute, something has to get done. What can I do as an individual and what can we do as a restaurant, a community?'”
Samuelsson, along with Chopped‘s Aaron Sanchez, hopes to raise funds, which will be donated to the American Red Cross, through an evening of special guests and live performances, including one from the cast of the Broadway musical Chicago.
“This is a moment for us to include our…colleagues and friends in Harlem to come up and put something together for the families that were affected by the gas explosion,” Samuelsson explains.
Harlem Helps: A Benefit for the East Harlem Collapse will be held on Wednesday, April 2 at Ginny’s Supper Club in Harlem. For more information on how to purchase tickets, visit www.ginnyssupperclub.com.
Samuelsson was last seen on season two of ABC’s The Taste where he appeared as a judge.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio