Tucson chefs rally for a players ball to support Gary Hickey’s stroke recovery July 26

Space Cowboy: A Players Ball for Gary Hickey runs at 6 p.m. on Sunday, July 26, at El Casino Ballroom, 437 E. 26th St.

Hickey, the longtime chef and partner at Charro Steak, had a rare stroke that had localized to his thoracic spinal cord. Now, Hickey works in physical therapy daily, aiming to return to the kitchen as soon as possible. However, his treatment ahead requires more than what insurance covers. He is pursuing regenerative stem cell therapy in Mexico for a fuller recovery, but it is an advanced treatment his insurance will not cover

Tickets and sponsorships are available at spacecowboy.casino. The fundraiser aims to raise $100,000, with all proceeds going directly toward Hickey’s recovery through CREATE, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

Gary’s story

Hickey built his career across some of Tucson’s most recognized kitchens. He served as executive chef at Charro Steak and culinary director for the Flores family of restaurants, with previous stints at Metropolitan Grill, City Grill, McMahon’s Prime Steakhouse, and Sullivan’s Steakhouse. In 2017, he won the culinary bracket competition Tucson Knife Fight, impressing judges with an Asian-inspired soup. Most recently, he served as chef of Flores Concepts and Si Charro Restaurants and as partner at Charro Steak & del Rey. For more on Hickey’s background and his years leading the Charro Steak kitchen, read Tucson Foodie’s profile in 2016.

A full night at El Casino

The event takes its name from the Space Cowboy mead at The Meading Room. The dress code follows: formal with flair, sequins, boots, bolo ties, fringe, and metallics. The Gastronomic Union of Tucson, a collaboration of 30-plus local chefs and food professionals, runs the food program for the evening.

The night runs with live food stations from doors open through late-night trail rations at 10 p.m. There is no seated dinner and no waiting, just open grazing across stations all night. Alongside the food, the event features a casino floor with real dealers running blackjack, craps, roulette, and poker. Every chip in play converts to a prize raffle entry at the end of the night. A DJ runs an open-format set all evening, with a mix of disco, funk, country crossover, and modern hits. A silent auction runs throughout the night, with all winning bids going directly to Hickey’s recovery.

El Casino Ballroom opened in 1947 and hosted touring acts including Tito Puente, James Brown, and Fats Domino before closing after a windstorm took the roof in 1991. It reopened in 2000 and has anchored South Tucson as a venue for weddings, quinceañeras, and community celebrations ever since.

Tickets and sponsorships

All ticket levels function as tax-deductible donations through CREATE. Options include:

• General Admission: $150 per person, includes entry, $100 in chips, and access to the Chef’s Roundup
• Gunslinger: $1,500 for a table of 4, includes $250 in chips per guest and name and logo on event signage
• Outlaw: $3,500 for a table of 6, includes $250 in chips per guest, logo on signage, social media mention, and reserved placement (5 available)
• Trail Boss: $6,500 for a table of 8, includes $250 in chips per guest, named table signage, premier logo placement, stage-side seating, social media feature, and a swag bag (only 2 available)

Those who cannot attend the July 26 event can donate directly at spacecowboy.casino. All funds go to Hickey’s recovery through CREATE.

In Hickey’s own words from the event page: “I’m a gambler. I know I’ve got the best hand right now, so I’m just riding it out.”