More than a Game
Supported by long-standing partner Food 4 Less/Foods Co., Bracken’s Kitchen celebrated its seventh annual signature culinary competition, the Hungry Games, at its corporate kitchen in Garden Grove.
The event netted more than $430,000, which will support Bracken’s Kitchen’s mission: rescuing, repurposing and restoring both food and lives through food rescue, culinary training and its community feeding program.
At the Hungry Games 7.0 event, which was held Sept. 12, 400 guests gathered to experience the culinary gifts of some of Los Angeles and Orange County’s most celebrated chefs, alongside aspiring talent from Bracken’s Kitchen’s culinary training program.
These chefs showcased their skills in head-to-head competition, with guests acting as judges. The event culminated in the crowning of Todd Meyer, corporate chef, Newport Meat Company and Rick Boxeth, chef, Santa Ana Sweets, as the Hungry Games’ Champions.
As part of the Food 4 Less/Foods Co. Zero Hunger and Zero Waste initiative, the grocers donated $20,000 to Bracken’s Kitchen for the Hungry Games 7.0 event.
This contribution helped with the organization of the event, provided 10,000 meals to those in need and supported the expansion of Bracken Kitchen’s culinary training program, which creates transformative opportunities for individuals seeking a way out of poverty.
“Our collaboration with Bracken’s Kitchen has truly brought this mission to life,” Salvador Ramirez, corporate affairs manager, Food 4 Less/Foods Co. and Ralphs Grocery Company.
“We take immense pride in the success of the event and the profound impact it has had on our community, delivering essential support to those in need and creating pathways for growth and transformation.”
Additional sponsors included Affordable Housing Access, America’s Tire, Cambro Manufacturing, Delta Wye, Eagle Real Estate, Electric, Goya, Newport Meat Company, SoCal Gas, Taco Bell, Vesta Foodservice and West Coast Solutions.
The Art of Giving
Orange County Museum of Art (OCMA) and Heidi Zuckerman, CEO and director, OCMA, hosted its fourth annual ArtSense Gala on Sept. 28, which honored artist Doug Aitken. The event raised more than $1.6 million to support the museum and its operations in its upcoming season.
The ArtSense Gala was presented by Lugano Diamonds with media partner Cultured Magazine. Chalmers Equity Group, Go Rentals, Innovate Realty, ISAIA Napoli, R.D. Olson Development, Clark Construction, Morphosis, Allied Universal, Melissa Morgan Fine Art, Cerity Partners, Dragonette Limited, 303 Gallery, Jackson Family Wines, Ketel One Vodka, Niagara Bottling, Nolet’s Gin and Voluspa provided additional support.
Themed Glamour in the Grove, the gala was held at the OCMA museum in Costa Mesa, which was transformed into a California orange grove to compliment the theme. Nearly 250 guests were welcomed by Zuckerman, who thanked the Board of Trustees, OCMA founders, members and guests for coming, and highlighted the museum’s second year of record-breaking attendance with 445,000 visitors, since reopening in 2022.
Aitken was honored with the ArtSense Gala Artist Honoree Award. Zuckerman introduced Aitken, saying “he has a beautiful way of capturing the fluid, ever-changing nature of contemporary life.”
After the award presentation, guests enjoyed a highlight video that illustrated OCMA’s key accomplishments and milestones, such as welcoming 3,400 students in school tours this year alone, hosting over 100 free public programs, and doubling the family programs from last year.
Premier Event for a Premier Nonprofit
More than 270 guests gathered at the 18th Annual Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit at Big Canyon Country Club on Sept. 19 in support of The Wooden Floor.
The Keep the Promise Wine Tasting Benefit raised $410,000, which will support The Wooden Floor’s goal of inspiring and transforming the lives of young people through the power of dance and access to higher education. Event sponsors included The Beall Family Foundation, Anaheim Ducks, OCVibe and The Frome Family Foundation.
Keep the Promise is considered one of Orange County’s premier wine events. Under candlelight in Big Canyon’s richly appointed clubhouse, guests sampled small plates that included a variety of gourmet foods.
As guests made their way through the benefit, more stations were filled with other stunning global fare created by Executive Chef Craig Strong with the guidance of Master Sommelier Steven Poe to complement the wine selections.
More than 200 bottles of 12 of the world’s top wines—all considered outstanding with an average rating of 97 points—were uncorked for the guests’ tasting experience, including the 2016 Dunn Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Howell Mountain (99 pts.), the 2008 Romano Dal Forno Amarone della Valpolicella (98 pts.), the 2015 Château Clinet (99 pts.) and the 2016 Fattoria di Felsina Berardenga Chianti Classico Gran Selezione Colonia (98+ pts.).
The evening highlights included a presentation from Denise, a graduate of The Wooden Floor, who said, “The Wooden Floor has been more than dance to me. It’s been a community, a creative space and a source of inspiration and support.”
“Young people like Denise (are) what Keep the Promise is all about,” said Dawn Reese, CEO, The Wooden Floor. “The promise we make to students who begin 10-year journeys with us, as early as 3rd grade through high school, is to ensure they have all the resources they need to reach their highest potential both in school and in life.”
Bits & Pieces
The United Way held its 2024 Rally for Change event on Sept. 25, where companies and individuals, including PNC Bank; Word & Brown Companies; Pacific Life; Automobile Club of Southern California; Burns McDonnell; BMO; Enterprise Mobility; Jim Moloney, partner, Gibson Dunn; Elida Flores, human resources lead, Word & Brown Companies; and Michelle Flores, human resources manager, Word & Brown Companies; and Jill Rawlingson-Baker, community impact program manager, Automobile Club of Southern California; were recognized and celebrated for their outstanding contributions to improving lives and breaking barriers in our community …
On Sept. 25, OCVibe announced Cox Business as its founding master technology partner, emphasizing that Cox Business’ state-of-the-art Wi-Fi technology is an essential component of the technology investments OCVibe, Honda Center and the Anaheim Ducks have made to provide an unparalleled guest experience, and it is now available for all guests attending upcoming events at Honda Center … The Angels Baseball Foundation and Cox Communications presented Hidden Hills Elementary of Laguna Niguel and Carl Hankey TK-8 Academy of Mission Viejo each with a $2,000 technology grant as part of their partnership to encourage learning by providing students in OC with unique opportunities.