Save the date on 26th of September- At-risk youths culinary, photography, spoken word and music accomplishments will take center stage at El Nido Family Centers Second Annual Garden Gala. The fundraiser will feature docent-led tours of the expansive grounds, cocktails, tastes from top LA chefs, dinner, entertainment, a live auction andEl Nido youth side-by-side with mentors in the creative and culinary arts. Funds raised go to the 91-year-old nonprofits services that help over 10,000 Los Angeles County youth, families and children each year. The Garden Gala is that rare event where guests personally get to meet the young people whose lives have been dramatically transformed as a result of El Nidos people and programs.
El Nido youth in the Garden to Table program will collaborate on tastings with chefs including Broken Spanish chef/owner Ray Garcia (GQ magazines Best Chef of 2015) and Garden Gala honorary committee member Jimmy Shaw, Loteria Grill owner and executive chef. The Garden to Table curriculum includes urban gardening, hands-on cooking instruction and budgeting skills taught by Max Kaplan, of Hugos restaurants;
The young photographers in El Nidos Gang Reduction Youth Development (GRYD) program will showcase their talents in “My LA…A City Seen Through the Eyes of El Nido’s Teens,” a photography exhibition from GRYDs current and alumni photographers. The GRYD photos reflect the students explorations and visits of iconic LA sites led by professional photographer Richard Doran.
Young musicians from the El Nido Youth Orchestra will perform under the stars. Teen clients will present dramatic readings in My Life Journey So Far
The honorees include; Luz Avila-Kyncl, a nutrition coach and wellness counselor and Jane Johnson, Jane Johnston has been a management advisor.