History of Baltimore's Best February Event
Celebrating its 19th birthday, The Chocolate Affair began as the brainchild of local community leaders concerned with poverty, hunger, and homelessness in Baltimore.
Founding members included the former President and CEO of Health Care for the Homeless, Jackie Gaines, and two currently serving members of The Chocolate Affair Event Planning Committee, Debra Attman and Pam Malester. The event initally benefited Action for the Homeless, which later merged to form the Center for Poverty Solutions. When the Center closed in 2005, event organizers partnered with Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) to keep the event alive and further HCH’s important work to reduce poverty, hunger, and homelessness throughout the state.
“The Chocolate Affair was actually Jackie’s idea,” says Pam Malester, reflecting upon the early discussions responsible for one of Baltimore’s most impressive fundraisers. “It’s only fitting that the event should now be raising funds to support the work of Health Care for the Homeless.”
Having outgrown an array of venues throughout Baltimore, The 19th Annual Chocolate Affair will take place in the South Club-Level Lounge of Ravens’ Stadium. Over most of the past two decades, proceeds from The Chocolate Affair have helped countless Marylanders feed their families, regain self-sufficiency, and get off the streets and back into the mainstream.