Today Groupon launched a sweepstakes for a trip for two to travel to Chicago, take part in a private cooking class with celebrity chef Rick Bayless and see his show “Cascabel” at the Lookingglass Theatre Company. Launching today and running through July 15, Groupon subscribers can visit www.groupon.com/rickbayless to make a donation and enter the sweepstakes.* All donations will go directly to the Frontera Farmer Foundation, which provides grants to local farms that serve the Chicago area.

“Great food, sourced sustainably, vitalizes communities all over the world,” said Rick Bayless. “I’m excited to partner with Groupon and rally support for the great local farms that fuel Chicago and its world-class selection of restaurants.”

Elements of the experience include:

  • Airfare for two people to Chicago, arriving on Friday, Aug. 22 and departing Sunday, Aug. 24, including ground transfer
  • Private cooking class from Rick Bayless and a signed cookbook
  • Tickets to “Cascabel” at the Lookingglass Theatre Company
  • Two-night stay at the W Hotel Lakeshore

As part of the Groupon Summer Shop, the Rick Bayless epic sweepstakes launches the nationwide “Fresh Eats” collection which features the best in fresh, seasonal eats. The entire collection can be found at www.groupon.com/occasion/summer-food. The sweepstakes ends at 11:59 p.m. CDT on July 15. The winner will be drawn on July 22.

About Groupon

Groupon (NASDAQ: GRPN) is a global leader of local commerce and the place you start when you want to buy just about anything, anytime, anywhere. By leveraging the company’s global relationships and scale, Groupon offers consumers a vast marketplace of unbeatable deals all over the world. Shoppers discover the best a city has to offer on the web or on mobile with Groupon Local, enjoy vacations with Groupon Getaways, and find a curated selection of electronics, fashion, home furnishings and more with Groupon Goods.

Groupon is redefining how traditional small businesses attract, retain and interact with customers by providing merchants with a suite of products and services, including customizable deal campaigns, credit card payment processing capabilities, and point-of-sale solutions that help businesses grow and operate more effectively. To search for great deals or subscribe to Groupon emails, visit www.Groupon.com. To download Groupon's five-star mobile apps, visit www.groupon.com/mobile. To learn more about the company’s merchant solutions and how to work with Groupon, visit www.GrouponWorks.com.

About Frontera Farmer Foundation

Established in 2003 to attract support for small Midwestern farms, the Frontera Farmer Foundation, a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, is committed to promoting small, sustainable farms serving the Chicago area by providing them with capital development grants. The Foundation envisions a year-round interchange between sustainable farmers and consumers, including farmers’ market patrons and chefs, in which seasonal local agriculture provides the foundation for sustainable regional cuisine. Rick and Deann Bayless, founders of Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, along with the restaurants’ staff, created the Foundation out of their concern for struggling farmers and the importance of local produce to the vitality of Chicago’s culinary culture. Small local farms promote biodiversity by planting a wide range of produce, are more likely to operate using organic practices, and add immeasurably to the fabric of their communities. By their artisanal approach to agriculture, these farmers insure the highest quality of food.

**No donation is necessary to enter or win, and a donation will not increase your chances of winning. To enter without donation, you must handwrite on a 3x5 card labeled "Rick Bayless Sweepstakes Entry," your full name, complete address, home and daytime telephone number (including area code), e-mail address and date of birth (all of which must be legible) and mail it with proper postage to: “Rick Bayless Sweepstakes Entry,” Groupon, Inc., 600 West Chicago Avenue, Ste. 400, Chicago, IL 60654. See Official Rules for additional requirements. Odds of winning depend on the total number of entries received. Void where prohibited by law. Sweepstakes only open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. or D.C., 18+. Entry period ends: 11:59 p.m. CDT on 7/15/2014. ARV of prize: $4,863.00. Sponsor: Groupon, Inc., 600 West Chicago Avenue, Ste. 400, Chicago, IL 60654.