Las Vegas’ culinary community will gather on March 28 at the Luxor for the annual Chefs for Kids Dinner and Auction, a high-energy gala fundraiser that blends industry camaraderie with a serious mission: making sure local children have access to proper nutrition.
This year’s event — themed “Raiders of the Lost Spork” — will honor Nicholas & Company, a family-owned foodservice distributor with deep roots in both the restaurant industry and community outreach. Accepting the award on behalf of the company will be executive Nicole Mouskondis, who recently spoke with the Food and Loathing podcast about the company’s long-standing commitment to the cause.
For those outside the industry, Nicholas & Company operates as a broadline distributor — supplying everything from ingredients to kitchen essentials for restaurants, schools, and institutional food programs across an eight-state region. But as Mouskondis made clear, their work goes beyond logistics.
“It’s really an honor and a privilege to be part of this community and to be part of Chefs for Kids,” she said. “We’re happy to be good stewards of the communities in which we serve.”
That philosophy has guided the company’s involvement with Chefs for Kids for years. Through partnerships with local chefs and ongoing support of the organization’s school-based programs, Nicholas & Company has helped expand access to nutritious meals in areas often described as “food deserts” — neighborhoods where fresh, healthy options are limited or unavailable.
Mouskondis said the mission resonates because it addresses a problem that can be easy to overlook.
“If you’re not in this industry, you can go by every single day and not realize that we have a problem in our own backyard,” she said, pointing to children who lack consistent access to nutritious food.
For Chefs for Kids, that kind of industry partnership is essential. The nonprofit works directly with Clark County schools to improve student nutrition through meal programs, education, and hands-on support from chefs and food professionals. The annual gala serves as both a fundraiser and a celebration of those efforts, with live auctions, themed entertainment, and plenty of opportunities for the hospitality community to show up for a cause that hits close to home.
Nicholas & Company’s contributions have been especially visible during those events. Their high-profile auction packages have helped raise significant funds, fueled by the company’s willingness to go above and beyond in support of the mission.
For Mouskondis, the most meaningful moments come after the spotlight fades.
“We get notes from the kids who have been impacted,” she said. “I save all of those. They’re like Christmas cards… a reminder that this is what matters.”
As the gala approaches, the night promises its usual mix of fun and philanthropy — a chance for the industry to let loose while making a tangible difference. And with Nicholas & Company in the spotlight, it’s also a reminder that some of the biggest players in the business are just as committed to feeding communities as they are to serving them.
Hear the entire Nicole Mouskondis interview on the March 13 episode of Food and Loathing.
