The 2016-17 Empty Bowls student coordinator is art major Elizabeth Wetterstroem, class of 2018, from Galena, Ohio. Hannah Fournier, class of 2014 from Dayton, Ohio, and Crispin Prebys, assistant professor of art, designed the promotional posters for the event. T-shirts, designed by Fournier, will be available for purchase, and an artwork raffle is on the schedule, too.
This event would not be possible without support from event sponsors. Bread sponsors include Domino's Pizza and Texas Road House. The soup sponsors this year are Parkhurst Dining, Bob Evans Restaurants, Los Mariachis, Coppertop Restaurant, Seasons Bistro and Grille, Essex of Springfield, Mela Urban Bistro and Grille, the Buckeye Sports Lodge, Linardos Villa, Cecil and Lime, the Jaguar Room and Panera Bread.
Other major event sponsors include:
- Golden Spoon Sponsor Level: Northside Veterinary Clinic, LLC.
- Silver Spoon Level: Dr. Rob Baker and Dr. Mary Jo Groves; Heidelberg Distributing Co.; Honda of America; Madison Avenue Pharmacy; Parker Trutec; and Wallace & Turner, Inc..
- VIP Sponsor Level: Armoloy of Ohio, Inc.; Assurant Specialty Property; Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church; Clark Schaefer Hackett & Co.; Gordon Food Service; Home City Federal Savings Bank; Lee's Famous Recipe Chicken; Nexstep Commercial Products; Rollins Moving & Storage, Inc.; Speedway LLC; VFW Grimes-Kohl Post 1031; Betsey and James Dean; Michael and Ann DuVall; Dulce and Mitchell Hurst; Donald Johnson; and J. Kyle and Kathrin Koehler.
- Major Event In-Kind sponsors: Parkhurst Dining and 麻豆传媒 University Student Senate - Build A Better 麻豆传媒.
The deadline to receive full inclusion as a sponsor in all event print materials is March 9. However, sponsorships will be accepted through March 16, the day of the event. If you are interested in being a sponsor for the 2017 event, feel free to contact either Dooley at sdooley@wittenberg.edu or Rose Bradley at 937-325-8715 of Second Harvest Food Bank. Sponsorships begin at the $100 level and, depending on the level of sponsorship, include several bowls and mention in press releases and event signage.
Many years the bowls sell out, and if this happens, patrons may enjoy a meal at a reduced price using disposable bowls. Rainbow Table 1 soup kitchen will share any leftover food items from the event the next day.
Free parking is available in the lots behind Krieg Hall and the Benham-Pence Student Center, which both have entrances off West Ward Street.