Hot Soup Cool Jazz is an annual fundraiser executed by four local organizations: Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre, Canadian Mental Health Association - NL Division, Choices For Youth, and Wreckhouse Jazz & Blues whereby some of the most prestigious restaurants in the City of St. John’s compete in a gourmet soup tasting competition in aid of those facing MENTAL HEALTH challenges, HOMELESSNESS and POVERTY.

In its 12th year, the event takes place on Tuesday, April 30th at the St. John’s Convention Center and offers a relaxed, social atmosphere where attendees mingle with friends, stakeholders and celebrity servers while enjoying gourmet soups, live instrumental jazz by both Brad Jefford and The Vertigo Quartet, a silent auction, raffles and some fun games. Vote for your favourite soup to win the TD Tasters Choice Award, while a panel of professional chefs provide awards for their top three soup selections.

There is no event where you can enjoy the fabulous creations of St. John's finest establishments all in one place, served to you by local celebrities, while being serenaded by a jazz quartet!

With the active involvement of supporting sponsors and donors, local restaurants, volunteers and attendees; this collaboration of like-minded organizations has raised more than $1,000,000 over the last 11 years to support initiatives aimed at addressing mental health issues, homelessness and poverty across the community. 

The issues of homelessness and poverty are multi-layered and will only be solved through concerted community action on multiple fronts. The four organizations felt it to be more effective to come together as a united front to create and implement an event that would support their work, and that is how Hot Soup Cool Jazz was formed.

The Organizations

Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Division
The Canadian Mental Health Association, Newfoundland and Labrador Division (CMHA-NL) is a provincial division of the nation-wide leader and champion for mental health. Their mission is to facilitate access to the resources people require to maintain and improve mental health and community integration; build resilience; and support recovery from mental illness.

Choices for Youth
Choices for Youth (CFY) has been changing the landscape of support services in Newfoundland and Labrador for over 25 years. Through innovative programming and social enterprise, CFY helps at-risk youth secure stable housing, education, and employment, while working toward family stability and better health. With a focus on prevention, intervention, and support, CFY's hope is to help youth make a healthy and stable transition to independent living.

Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre
The Soup Kitchen at George Street United Church was opened as the Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre with the support of Kathy LeGrow. The Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre offers a hot lunch each Friday, and a hot breakfast every Monday morning, to those individuals in the downtown core of St. John’s who are less fortunate Since the Jimmy Pratt Memorial Outreach Centre opened its doors in 2001, they have served over 30,000 meals. Their success has been in largely made possible by the efforts of a small group of dedicated volunteers from George Street United Church and other St. John’s Congregations.

Wreckhouse Jazz and Blues
Wreckhouse Jazz and Blues (WJB) is a non-profit arts organization based in St. John’s, NL. The goal of WJB is to foster and sustain an appreciation of creative music in our community, primarily jazz, blues, and world music. This is achieved though year-round programming of concerts, educational activities, and fundraisers. WJB strives to create opportunities for the public of all ages to learn about the diversity, history, & cultural traditions of jazz, blues, and world music.