By Karen Ostlund
30th ANNUAL “HONDA EVENING UNDER THE STARS FOR CHILDREN’S HEALTHCARE” EVENT.
Saxophonist KENNY G was the evening’s headliner and performed solo in front of 1100 guests. The event raised over $ 300.000 last Saturday night August 27th at Honda Torrance. (40 min. drive from Los Angeles)
The benefit competed for attention the same night with Los Angeles Food & Wine Festival (lafw.com) in Santa Monica and downtown LA, but had a full house.
Proceeds benefitted Torrance Memorial Pediatrics, Providence TrinityKids Care, a program of Providence TrinityCare and Vistas for Children.
The “Honda Evening Under The Stars” attracted a more mature crowd and couples in cocktail attire, than other “Food & Wine Festivals”.
World-renowned jazz saxophonist Kenny G serenaded guests with his greatest hits with his soulful instrumentals as “Honda Evening Under the Stars for Children’s Healthcare Gourmet Food and Wine Tasting Festival celebrates its 30th year. Kenny G. released a tribute to bossa nova titled “Brazilian Nights” last year. In 2010 he was featured on the CD “Heart and Soul” with vocals from Robin Thicke and Babyface.
This year 2016 Honda combined the magic of this signature event with another 30-year South Bay tradition the “For Our Children” fundraiser into bring greater impact to local children’s healthcare, Torrance Memorial Pediatrics, Providence TrinityKids Care, a program of Providence TrinityCare, and Vistas for Children, Inc.
“Honda believes that the health and comfort of our children is the bedrock of our community’s future,” said Steve Morikawa, vice president, Corporate Relations & Social Responsibility, American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Combining these two events and focusing on children’s health and care allows local business to partner with community healthcare providers to address the needs of our community.”
Through the years, Honda and the Festival’s restaurant and beverage partners have raised millions of dollars through these combined events and demonstrated its long-standing care and commitment to those providing healthcare and comfort to children in the South Bay.
Through its participation in Evening Under the Stars, For Our Children will support Providence TrinityKids Care, a program of Providence TrinityCare, and Vistas for Children. Trinity is the only dedicated pediatric hospice program in Los Angeles and Orange counties for infants, children and adolescents with life-limiting illnesses and provides in-home care and support for young patients and their families. Vistas for Children, Inc., is a respected philanthropic organization composed of women volunteers from the South Bay with a mission to raise funds for charities that help special needs children and to be a system of support for these children and their families. Vistas has donated more than $7 million to children in need in our community.
“We are honored to once again partner with Honda and look forward to working with For Our Children, Vistas and Trinity Hospice to make this an evening to remember,” said Laura Schenasi, executive vice president, Torrance Memorial Foundation. “Our donors always anticipate this exciting evening, as well as the opportunity to support Torrance Memorial. We know it will be another exceptional year.”
“There is no greater expression of a community’s generosity than the way it chooses to care for its children,” said James Zapp, chair of the Providence TrinityCare Foundation Board of Trustees. “Honda’s leadership in focusing the South Bay’s attention on vitally important services that benefit our neediest children is an inspiring example for us all.”
The one-evening festival, presented in partnership with the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce, featured restaurants and beverage partners from Torrance, Redondo Beach, El Segundo, Rolling Hills Estate, Manhattan Beach and Los Angeles::
Restaurants and Beverage Partners:
21 Square Bar + Kitchen
Addi’s Tandoor/Bollywood Zaika
Andres – Doubletree by Hilton Torrance – South Bay
Battaglini Estate Winery
Bettolino Kitchen
Boisset Wine Collection
Depot
Disneyland Resort (select wines poured by sommeliers)
Essentia Water
Gourmet Grindz
Grey Wolf
Honda Café
HT Grill
IL Fornaio
Inside the Scoops
ISE SHIMA at the Miyako
Island Eats Hale ‘Aina
Jackson’s Food + Drink
Justin
Kincaid’s
Lattes on Location
North Italia
Ortega 120
Paul Martin’s American Grill
Ramazzotti Vinyards
Real Soda in Real Bottles, Ltd.
Red Car Brewery & Restaurant
RIBOLI FAMILY WINE ESTATES/SAN ANTONIO WINERY
Rolling Hills Country Club
Rutherford Hills Vineyards
Sausal
Sushi Chef Institute
The Honda Café at Providence Little Company of Mary Hospital
The Honda Classic
The Strand House
Torrance Bakery
Truchard
In addition to the very best in South Bay cuisine, over 80 varietals of wine were served, with help of professional sommeliers from The Disneyland Resort. www.facebook.com/eveningunderthestars.
The live and silent auction featured exclusive items and experiences, including entertainment packages, sporting events and memorabilia, dining, travel, local outings and specialty items as 5 nights cruise for 2 to Caribbean or Bahamas, vacations in Hawaii and San Francisco, and tickets for 10 to and Andrea Bocelli Concert.
