Blog
01/04/2019
Blue Tie Gala Soars to New Heights
By: Elefterie Kapsalis
Children’s Bureau’s Blue Tie Gala, “Soaring to New Heights,” flew sky-high on November 3, 2018 at the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica. Over 350 guests throughout the community came together for the memorable night, raising $395,000 to benefit at-risk families in Southern California.
Representing the national color of child abuse prevention, the guests arrived at the venue dressed in blue cocktail attire, where they struck a pose on the blue carpet before heading into the cocktail reception. World-class wines from Napa and France were flowing and there were dozens of thrilling silent auction items available for bidding, plus a wall of extraordinary paintings by Children’s Bureau’s creative preschoolers. During cocktail hour, Holly Jivin of SLS Beverly Hill’s The Bazaar by José Andrés prepared oyster ceviche with leche de tigre, Gio Lopez and Randy Kim of Border Grill served up tuna crudo tostaditas, David LeFevre presented his signature blue cheese, caramelized onion and bacon tartlets, and Karla Hoyos of South Beach’s The Bazaar by José Andrés dished up Kueh Pai Ti, Singapore’s favorite street food. Concluding the auction, Children’s Bureau’s President and CEO Ron Brown thanked the Event Sponsors and Blue Tie Gala Committee.
Once cocktail hour came to an end, guests were invited into the museum to dine beneath a constellation of historical aircrafts. The tables, decorated with exquisite centerpieces and bold blue and gold tablecloths, were the ideal setting for the first dish of a two-course dinner, Wild Icelandic Cod topped with butternut and banana squashes and braised beluga lentils prepared by Anthony Jacquet of Claudine Artisan Kitchen & Bakeshop. The cod was paired with a Ramey Chardonnay, featuring white peach and cashew tasting notes. The second course was Moroccan-spiced beef with Israeli couscous and figs by Anne Conness of Jaffa and Sausal, which harmonized with the plum and black currant hints in the Scheid Claret wine.
While guests dined, Event Chair Julia Stewart took to the stage to present a gift to the night’s honoree, Fedele Bauccio, CEO and Cofounder of Bon Appétit Management Company, for his decade-long generosity to Children’s Bureau. Fedele’s altruism and leadership have enabled Children’s Bureau to raise $2.2 million for nearly a decade through its Celebrity Chefs & Wine Tasting and Blue Tie Gala events. Every year, Bon Appétit Management Company underwrites the cost of rentals, waiting staff and food which totals well over $300,000 in event cost savings for Children’s Bureau. Fedele’s goal has always been to ensure that Children’s Bureau raises the essential dollars needed to support its child abuse prevention programs.
After honoring Bauccio, Emcee Eric Daroca introduced the evening’s program with Jangel, an aspiring child chef who is a member of Children’s Bureau’s Food Marketing Coalition. Guests happily raised their paddles to fund Children’s Bureau’s various programs and services, from resource parent training to the after-school library program to a month of NuParent classes, and more.
Guests concluded the evening with an array of desserts and dancing.. Talented pastry chefs Garry Larduinat of Wolfgang Puck Catering, Mitzi Reyes of Beverly Hill’s The Bazaar by José Andrés and Joshua Graves of Rose Café and Restaurant manned their respective dessert stations. Their ornately-crafted and mouthwatering delicacies included caramels with an edible wrapper, mango and passion fruit pillow cakes, chocolate tarts and other one-of-a-kind pastries. Guests circled the dessert stations in awe and they tasted these decadent creations before the Soulville Band drew them to the dance floor.
Dancing the night away, guests celebrated yet another successful year in coming together to raise funds for Children’s Bureau that will continue to help vulnerable families and communities thrive.