Huntington Beach, CA – The 28th Annual Share Our Selves (SOS) Celebrity Chef Dinner brought over 250 generous community members together for an exciting evening of fun, delicious food and drinks, and philanthropy. The event, held on Friday, October 5 at the beautiful Paséa Hotel & Spa, highlighted eight phenomenal local chefs committed to helping those in need in Orange County. The event netted approximately $147,000 in support of the SOS Food Pantry and Comprehensive Service Center, which provides food and needed services such as rental and utilities assistance, transportation, and seasonal programs for low-income individuals and families.
The event began with an outdoor reception that took advantage of the beachfront location, with the waves crashing just yards away as day turned to dusk under the twinkling market lights. The reception featured hors d’oeuvres stations, and wine and beer tastings. A wine pull gave guests the chance to buy a mystery bottle of wine for $30 that was valued anywhere from $25 to $120. The silent auction gave attendees another chance to bid on fun items donated by local individuals and businesses. Giant chalkboard signs with provocative prompts such as “What inspires you to give to your community?,” “Describe a moment from your life that took your breath away,” and “What changes do you hope to see in Orange County in the future?” encouraged guest participation. Everyone at the event had a wonderful time mingling with the chefs, sitting by the fire pits, enjoying the live music and photo booth, and learning more about SOS from the informational signage.
Guests then moved to the ballroom for the first course, entrée and dessert during the live auction and program. One-of-a kind dinners prepared by our chefs made for an enticing live auction lineup, and emcee Zack Krone kept the frenzied bidders raising their paddles. Next, SOS CEO Karen McGlinn gave a heartfelt talk about the moments and clients at SOS that have taken her breath away. The evening ended with a lively Fund A Need, in which bidders raised their paddles one last time to make a contribution to SOS. The Fund A Need raised over $50,000 in just over five minutes!
