Chefs from around Michiana are gearing up for the 2013 Greatest Chef Competition hosted by the YMCA.

On Friday, the YMCA announced this year’s teams. The organization’s financial director, Nancy Brenner Sinnott, says the Greatest Chef Competition is the largest fundraiser it holds.

In its first year the event raised a little over $100,000, but that amount increased to more than $163,000 the next year. The event’s coordinators hope to raise more than $175,000 this time around and the director says it all goes to a great cause.

“We don't want to turn anyone away and the programs that we do within South Bend schools are with low income kids who don't pay anything, and we couldn't do those programs without the support of an event like this,” says Sinnott.

The YMCA helps finance membership scholarships through fundraising events such as the Greatest Chef Competition. Such scholarships help defray membership costs, and are awarded on a sliding scale based on what a person is able to pay.

Each team participating in the cooking competition will have the remaining weeks in January to create a delicious and unique dish using good health guidelines.

The dishes will be announced Feb. 1, and will be available at the chef’s restaurants for the whole community to try throughout the month of February. Attendees can sample the recipes and vote online for their favorites at www.greatestchefsofmichiana.org.