5-Year-Old in the Running to Win School $30K

Gabby and her mom bond over new recipes.

Five-year-old Gabby Malkomes is a girl of few words, but her contagious smile says it all. The Martha Reid Leadership Academy student has Down Syndrome and lights up every time she helps her mother cook.

Thanks to her cooking skills and bubbly personality, Gabby now has the opportunity to win a $30,000 cafeteria makeover for her school.

Gabby’s mother entered the two of them in the nationwide Ben’s Beginners cooking photo contest, sponsored by Mars Food. The goal of the contest is to promote wholesome diets.

The judges recently picked their top 25 pictures, and the Malkomes family made the cut with a peanut butter rice flan.

“I created around eight recipes using their products, took pictures of Gabby and I cooking them together, and submitted them,” said Luciana Malkomes. “They received more than 500 entries.”

The picture was selected by judges and is up for public voting.

The top five winners will receive a $15,000 check and an additional $30,000 check to be used toward a cafeteria makeover for the child’s school. Winners are determined based on public votes, creativity, presentation of dish and appetite appeal.

“I'm really excited about this opportunity to win this huge prize for the school,” the mother continued.

Public voting is open now through Nov. 6. Grand prize winners will be announced in December.