Wendi White wears many different hats.

She’s preparing for her wedding in 2020 and managing the life of a 5-year old who has just started kindergarten. She juggles her full-time job at Rolls-Royce in Prince George County with grad school studies at James Madison University.

And right now, she’s serving the Rho Eta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority as the Fundraising Committee co- chair of its 13th Annual “Sauté and Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cooking” fundraiser.

The event, which hosts an average of 800 attendees every year, was the creation of former Rho Eta Omega Presidents Sadá Hill and Karen Hicks, who were inspired by a visit to the “Philly Men are Cooking” event in 1996 to establish a similar fundraiser in Virginia’s capital city, one that draws in a public eager for good food and generates money for good causes.

Thirty-five men who cook, including Derrick Thomas of The Thomas Law Firm, retired accountant Dwain O’Neal, Dominion Energy’s Jason Holland and Prince George County schoolteacher Celvin Richardson, are set to showcase their culinary skills with a suite of dishes ranging from shrimp and pasta to pulled pork, crab dip, meatballs and chili for those in attendance to dine on and vote on. The fundraiser also will feature a silent auction, line dancing and music by DJ King Tutt.

For Ms. White, who joined AKA in 2007 while attending North Carolina A&T State University and has served in multiple leadership roles since joining Rho Eta Omega Chapter in 2013, the experience with this year’s fundraiser has been smooth sailing.

In addition to juggling her professional and personal responsibilities, Sauté and Sizzle requires Ms. White to balance television appearances, advertisement rollouts, booking entertainment and publicity and ticket management.

Ms. White cites the efforts of two other co-chairs, Fran Randall for the sponsorship and chef subcommittees and Kiera Lee with logistics and decorations, keeping the work efficient and transparent, as each operates in “a lane that we’re strong in.”

The community involvement, to Ms. White, is a key differentiator for Sauté and Sizzle from other Rho Eta Omega fundraisers, and a factor that’s key to the success of the $17,000 fundraising goal set for this year’s event.

The proceeds of this event will support Richmond high school students through scholarships and give back to the community through five international programs the sorority supports, including HBCU For Life: A Call to Action, Women’s Healthcare and Wellness, and Global Impact.

Last year’s fundraiser collected $38,000 in donations before expenses, an amount that speaks to the sorority’s strong connection to the Metro Richmond community.

“I think what draws a lot of people to Sauté and Sizzle is the fact that they know that we give out $17,000 in scholar- ships every year, and it’s going back into the community,” Ms. White says.

“It’s just an overall good time.”

Meet this week’s Personality, who has a full plate fundraising for the 13th Annual “Saute & Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cooking,” Wendi White:

Occupation: Financial analyst at Rolls-Royce in Prince George County.

No. 1 volunteer position: Fundraising committee co-chair of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Rho Eta Omega Chapter’s “Sauté and Sizzle.”

Date and place of birth: Aug. 11 in California.

Current residence: North Chesterfield.

Alma maters: North Carolina A&T State University, bachelor’s in accounting, 2009; and James Madison University, MBA in information security, expected in December 2019.

Family: Engaged to Josh and a 5-year-old son, Blake, who keeps me on my toes with all of his energy. He just started kindergarten.

Who came up with idea for “Sauté & Sizzle: Richmond Men Are Cook-ing:” Former Rho Eta Omega Presidents Sadá Hill and Karen Hicks, who attended the Philly Men Are Cooking event. They were impressed with the event and presented the idea to the members of Rho Eta Omega as a fundraiser in 1996. It has become our annual signature fundraising event. Sauté & Sizzle past winners: Rev. Earl Bledsoe (smoked pork chops); Martin Lewis (pasta delight); Marcel Wilson (London broil and cabbage); Donnie Oliver (white chicken chili); Jameel Staten (steak and more); and Marc Rene (chicken and rice).

What dishes will be served: There will be crab dip, hot sausage with cheese on a roll, shrimp and pasta, pulled pork, meatballs and chili. Desserts will include sweet potato pie and peach cobbler.

Serving size: 2-ounce portions.

Relevance of sororities and fraternities: The Divine Nine Historically Black Sororities and Fraternities are relevant because they do so much more than just having a presence at the college level. It extends to the graduate level and allows sororities and fraternities to give back to the communities they live in. Community service, health awareness, mentoring youths and civic involvement are examples of areas in which the sororities and fraternities are involved. The Divine Nine continue to have a strong relationship with the African-American community and will continue to be relevant.

Event fundraising goal: We have a fundraising goal of $17,000 to provide local high school students with scholarships and give back to the local community that we serve through our international programs, including Global Impact; HBCU For Life: A Call To Action; The Arts!; Building Your Economic Legacy; and Women’s Healthcare and Wellness.

How I start the day: I start my day around 5 a.m. or 6 a.m., pray and then look at my Google calendar to see what I have planned for the day.

Quality I admire most in another person: Transparency. Three words that best describe me: Direct, trustworthy and reliable.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I love to unwind and have nothing planned for the day but laying around the house. Believe it are not, the days I don’t have anything planned are reset days for me.

If I could wave a magic wand, I would: Pay off my student loans. There is so much I could be doing with that money I pay each month.

I knew I was grown up when: I started having random conversations with strangers. LOL. It’s a trait I picked up from my mom that I always picked with her about when I was younger.

Quote that inspires me: “Sky is the limit and you know that you can have what you want, be what you want.” – Christopher Wallace aka Biggie Smalls

A perfect day for me: Being on vacation and exploring the area and learning about their culture. Also, lying out at a beach enjoying the sun and reading a good book.

Favorite meal: Crab fried rice and anything seafood.

How I unwind: Meditating 10 to 15 minutes and drinking a glass of wine.

Person who influenced me the most: My mother. She is a strong and independent woman who instilled values in me that I have used most of my life.

Book that influenced me the most: “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne.

What I’m reading now: “Abundance” by Peter Diamandis.

Best thing my parents ever taught me: To be independent and to always know my self-worth.

My next goal: Finish planning my wedding that’s in May 2020.