GLOW Academy Students Prep for Cape Fear Wine + Food Fundraiser

Annual event brings top chefs and wines to Wilmington to benefit local students.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:35pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a stack of freshly baked biscuits repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the culinary talents of GLOW Academy students.GLOW Academy students showcase their culinary skills with homemade biscuits at the annual Cape Fear Wine + Food fundraiser.Wilmington Today

Students at GLOW Academy, an all-girls public charter school in Wilmington, North Carolina, are preparing to participate in the upcoming Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser. The annual event features renowned chefs and wines from around the world, with proceeds benefiting GLOW Academy and Spark Academy. As part of their culinary education, GLOW students learned baking techniques from celebrity chef James Beard Award-winner Virginia Willis and will be setting up their own booth at the fundraiser to serve their own homemade treats.

Why it matters

The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience provides valuable exposure and hands-on learning opportunities for students at GLOW Academy, helping them develop both academic and professional skills. The fundraiser also supports the continued operation and growth of the charter school, which has served girls in grades 6-12 since 2016.

The details

GLOW Academy students are getting ready to showcase their culinary skills at the upcoming Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser in Wilmington. Ahead of the event, the students received a baking lesson from renowned chef Virginia Willis, who taught them how to make simple yet delicious biscuits. At the fundraiser, the GLOW students will be setting up their own booth to serve the baked goods they prepared. The annual event brings together top chefs and wines from around the world, with proceeds benefiting GLOW Academy and Spark Academy, two local public charter schools.

  • The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, April 19, 2026 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
  • GLOW Academy has been serving students in grades 6-12 in Wilmington since 2016.

The players

GLOW Academy

An all-girls public charter school in Wilmington, North Carolina that has served students in grades 6-12 since 2016.

Jahleese Hadley

The director of college access at GLOW Academy.

Virginia Willis

A James Beard Award-winning chef who taught the GLOW Academy students how to make biscuits ahead of the Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser.

Spark Academy

A public charter school in Wilmington that is also a beneficiary of the Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser.

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What they’re saying

“One of the things we're really passionate about here is looking for opportunities to give our students exposure and help them build the academic skills they need to be successful, but also the soft skills and professional skills.”

— Jahleese Hadley, Director of College Access, GLOW Academy

“Knowing how to cook and knowing how to feed yourself and knowing how to feed your family is one of the most powerful things we can do.”

— Virginia Willis, Celebrity Chef

What’s next

The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2026, where the GLOW Academy students will showcase their culinary skills and homemade treats.

The takeaway

The Cape Fear Wine and Food Experience fundraiser provides valuable real-world learning opportunities for students at GLOW Academy, helping them develop both academic and professional skills while also supporting the continued operation and growth of the charter school. The event's focus on showcasing local culinary talent and raising funds for education underscores the community's commitment to empowering the next generation.