NILES —  Every year, the Niles Education Foundation celebrates Niles graduates who have gone on to make a difference in their communities.

This year the tradition continues as the foundation honors Howard-Ellis Elementary principal Michelle Asmus, and several businesses are stepping up with the aim to make the evening extra special by donating food for “A Taste of Niles,” which will seek to entice guests with a host of culinary delights throughout the evening.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. today at Fifty5. The event is open to the public and costs $35 a ticket. There will be a silent auction, cash bar and DJ. Proceeds from the event will go to the foundation which gives the money back to the Niles Community Schools District in the form of grants and project funds.

“A Taste of Niles” is a new aspect to Legendary Evening, which will seek to complement Asmus being honored.

There will be 17 different dishes for people to select from. The food was donated by local businesses and organized by chef Daysha Amster. Amster, the former owner and operator of Olfactory Hue and current chef at Martin’s, will also be creating items for the menu.

Those who attend will have the chance to savor items like Amster’s strawberry bruschetta — a shortcake topped with strawberries and balsamic drizzle. Other menu items will include sausage bites and pasta salad.

Amster said the goal of “A Taste of Niles” was to be a complement to Asmus’ night and offer people a way to sample the variety of foods created by local businesses. She emphasized that while the food is important, it is certainly not the start of the show.

“The Taste of Niles is very small compared to the bigger picture, which is that we are honoring Michelle,” Amster said.

This is the first year that the food has been donated and so a larger portion of the proceeds will go to the Niles Education Foundation.

Amster said local business’ generosity for the event is not unnoticed.

“They are just so awesome …” Amster said. “I know what it is like to be called upon to donate a dish for 100 people, I mean that is something — but for 15 businesses in Niles to do it, that speaks volumes.”

Peggy Maiers, the chairman of the Niles Education Foundation Board, said it was exciting to offer guests something new to Legendary Evening.

“We are really excited to use local eateries, because that money we earn from ticket sales, that money will go toward projects and grants we fund,” Maiers said.

The Niles Education Foundation Board of Trustees chose Asmus to be honored based on the criteria of “making a difference” in the Niles community and around the world.

Maiers said Asmus, a Niles High School alumni, was selected for her tireless dedication to the Niles Community Schools district and for her volunteer work.

Maiers said she was proud to see the Niles community stepping up to help out with the event through A Taste of Niles.

“It’s a community effort this year to make it a huge success,” Maiers said. “It is going to be a lot of fun. It will be something people will wish they went to if they miss it.”

Tickets can be purchased online at nilesschools.org/domain/42 or at the door.