We are so excited to share that Caterina’s Club raised $450,000 at the 14th annual Red Carpet Gala! WOW! Our team, Chef Bruno, and of course, Caterina are beyond grateful to everyone who attended the event and contributed their time, energy, and money to help our cause. With food, drinks, music, and 400+ guests it was without a doubt a night to remember!
A huge special thanks to the venue and the wonderful staff at the Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin who created a memorable scene for our guests. Our guests were able to mix and mingle with cocktails in hand as they ooed and awed over the most expensive cars in the world! Among the performers of the night were Miss California Eileen Kim and Brenda Crystal, a popular Latina artist who, as a youth, was a beneficiary of Caterina’s Club.
With their tummies full and their spirits high, guests opened their wallets to the auctioned items and cashed out roughly $450,000 for Caterina’s Club. Here is the honorary lineup:
- David & Cinzia Pryor —The couple who are OC and Italy residents own and operate a manufacturing company in Anaheim that serves municipalities and public works organizations throughout the world. We are long-time grateful for their lifetime support of Caterina’s Club and David’s position as an executive member of the Board of Directors.
- Mary Moore — A widow, Mary and her late husband, Bill, owned Golden State Foods, which supplied the McDonald’s hamburger chain with food products. Since his death, Mary, who has 18 grandchildren, has become involved in many philanthropic causes and was particularly moved by Caterina’s Club founder Serato’s story of coming to the U.S. with only $200 in his pocket.
- Jim & Kathy Antonowitsch — The couple, who are well known for their business and philanthropic endeavors, were recognized for their many achievements including having founded the Oasis Treatment Center that helps those with substance abuse issues transition to the road to recovery. They also support many nonprofits including CHOC, the Boys & Girls Club and Caterina’s Club.
- Wylie & Bette Aitken — Wylie is nationally recognized as a trial lawyer and the youngest person to ever be elected president of the State Bar and Bette is a member of Chapman University’s “Women of Chapman” and Women in Leadership Orange County. Together they support many nonprofits including the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, South Coast Repertory, the Family Protection Clinic at Chapman University and Caterina’s Club.
We are looking forward to our future fundraisers so we can continue to keep Caterina’s spark alive and help more people across the nation. With more than 3 million meals served, Caterina’s Club extends to even greater masses, and we are always looking for helping hands. Do you want to be a part of the change?
Caterina’s Club additionally helps families escape living in drug-infested, crime-ridden motels and move into safer, cleaner and more permanent housing through the Welcome Home program. Welcome Home compliments the Hospitality Program we also have in place which seeks to divert at-risk high school students by introducing them to opportunities in the food, hospitality and service industries.
Find the program that’s right for you by visiting our Get Involved page.
We hope to see you at our upcoming Annual Snow Day! Join us for the “Winter Wonderland” Snow Day where we celebrate annual an early Thanksgiving and serve dinner, a pre-Christmas festivity, to more than 400 motel children in our community.