A sizzling night of hibachi and community spirit resulted in a major boost for art education in Indian River County.
The “Dinner with a Celebrity Chef” fundraising event, held at Fujiyama Steakhouse & Sushi Bar on January 27th, 2025, raised an impressive $35,950 for Kids Tag Art – Indian River, Inc.
Ten local celebrities prepared an exciting hibachi dinner for attendees. The event, with tickets priced at $200 per person, offered guests a dining experience while supporting a worthy cause.
“We are beyond thrilled with the community’s support for this event,” said Carole Jean Jordan, representative of Kids Tag Art – Indian River, Inc. “The enthusiasm and generosity of our attendees help ensure that young students in Indian River County continue to have access to enriching art education experiences.”
The celebrity chefs included Jonathan Barkett, Wesley Davis, Eric Flowers, Carole Jean Jordan/Eric Hunter, Lance Lunceford, Gabby Rothman, Leslie Swan/Brandon Hays, John Titkanich, Philip Wolf, and Robbie Brackett/Tracey Zudans.
The evening was filled with delicious food, entertainment, and a shared commitment to supporting the arts.
Kids Tag Art – Indian River, Inc. partners with the Tax Collector of Indian River County and local schools to encourage 5th-grade students to design their own front license plates. This fun and educational competition raises funds to sustain and expand art programs, providing valuable resources to classrooms.
This successful event contributes to a statewide effort. Seventeen Florida counties have collectively raised nearly $2 million for school art programs through Kids Tag Art. The program operates through the sale of the unique license plates and sponsorships.
Kids Tag Art license plates are available for purchase at the Tax Collector’s Office. As a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, donations to Kids Tag Art – Indian River, Inc. are tax-deductible where applicable by law. The organization expressed its sincere gratitude to sponsors, donors, attendees, and volunteers for making the event a resounding success.
For more information on Kids Tag Art – Indian River, Inc. or to support future initiatives, please visit https://irctax.com/about/kids-tag-art.

