Chef Rocco DeSpirito
This past Saturday, July 19th, 2015, The American Cancer Society celebrated 30 years of California Spirit at the 30th California Spirit fundraiser at Sony Pictures in Culver City Studio.
California Spirit 30 was hosted by James Beard Award-winning illustrious chef, Rocco DiSpirito., who is The New York Times bestselling author of Cook Your Butt Off! DiSpirito appears as the Healthy Food Coach on ABC’s hit series Extreme Weight Loss and is the founder of an innovative food delivery service (www.roccodispirito.com).
It was a lively, fun spirited event that included samplings from Los Angeles’ celebrated chefs, top mixologists and premier California vintners, live entertainment and silent and live auctions, and a raffle for a 2015 Ford Fusion Energi from the Southern California Ford Dealers, KABC-TV, KCBS-TV/KCAL-TV, KNBC-TV, and KTLA-TV.
Movie mogel Sherry Lansing served as this year’s Platinum Sponsor. Onsite there were the best culinary and beverage entities in L.A. including Los Angeles’ quintessential bistro, Bouchon Beverly Hills, with chef/ proprietor Thomas Keller in attendance.
Chef Thomas Keller, Alyson Janney
Hand crafted cocktails were created by renowned mixologist Julian Cox, and the opportunity to sample from the kitchens of the newest additions Catch & Release, Redbird, and ICDC.
See full list of fine restaurants in attendance here…
Tantalizing libations included Barrel & Ashes, chi SPACCA, Lemonade, Knuckle & Claw, Picca, Tavern, A Sweet Savory, and wine and spirits from Malibu Vineyards, Mystic Hills Vineyard, The Wine House, Greenbar Distillery, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, and LVP Sangria.
Platinum Sponsor Sherry Lansing
Honorary Co-chairs were Phil Rosenthalj and Bill Chait. This year’s Diamond Sponsors are Joyce Eisenberg-Keefer and Mel Keefer, with Sherry Lansing.
Chef Rocco DeSpirito
The evening ended with a fun exchange at the end of the live auction, with the winner, actress Alison Janney bidding and winning a dinner and movie night for 12 at Sherry Lansing’s estate. The fun, surprise element was Rocco DeSpirito, the event’s host, who jumped in an added his chef services, which immediately boosted the bid to exponentially higher, all to benefit American Cancer Society!
For information visit calspirit.org
For more than 100 years, the American Cancer Society has been leading the fight to end cancer. With the generous support from millions of people, the American Cancer Society has been able to translate their research findings into action and by doing so, has seen a 20% decline in US cancer death rates since the early 1990s.
The California Spirit 30 fundraiser aims to raise funds to continue to support incredible research that leads to finding a cure for cancer over a spectacular evening filled with fantastic food, wine, and spirits from Los Angeles’ renowned chefs, top mixologists and premiere California vintners.
About American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society combines an unyielding passion with nearly a century of experience to save lives and end suffering from cancer. As a global grassroots force of more than three million volunteers, we fight for every birthday threatened by every cancer in every community. We save lives by helping people stay well by preventing cancer or detecting it early; helping people get well by being there for them during and after a cancer diagnosis; by finding cures through investment in groundbreaking discovery; and by fighting back by rallying lawmakers to pass laws to defeat cancer and by rallying communities worldwide to join the fight
As the nation’s largest non-governmental investor in cancer research, contributing more than $3.4 billion, we turn what we know about cancer into what we do. As a result, more than 11 million people in America who have had cancer and countless more who have avoided it will be celebrating birthdays this year. To learn more about us or to get help, call us any time, day or night, at 1-800-227-2345 or visit cancer.org.
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