Seventeen local restaurants will serve up their signature dishes at the Pleasanton Partnerships In Education Foundation’s annual culinary fundraising event on Sept. 30 from 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. at the CarrAmerica Conference Center in Pleasanton.
Proceeds from ìBon Appetit ñ A Star Studded Culinary Affaireî will fund grants and programs for students and faculty in the Pleasanton Unified School District. PPIE is a nonprofit foundation that fosters partnerships between the school district, local businesses and community organizations.
ìIt is an absolutely great time and for $50, where else can you experience 17 restaurants, great wine, live entertainment and a fun time?î said Debi Covello, PPIEís executive director. ìSo many people attend, itís also a great place to reconnect with old friends you havenít seen in years.î
At the culinary event, each local chef is paired with a school principal and business sponsor to form a culinary team. In addition to a wide selection of food and wine, the event also features a martini bar, live entertainment by David Ladd and the All Star Jazz Band and a silent and live auction.
ìItís a very worthwhile and fun event,î said Superintendent John Casey, who is also on PPIEís board of directors. ìA lot of members of the community are brought together to support the schools in a fun and entertaining environment. The food is prepared by local chefs and principals and business sponsors are on hand to help serve it.î
This is the third year PPIE has hosted the culinary-themed fundraiser. Last yearís event, which sold out, raised more than $70,000. Covello hopes to surpass that amount this year.
Tickets are $50 and are available through each school siteís PPIE representative, online at www.ppie.org, or by contacting the PPIE office at (925) 846-5620.
As a fun incentive, PPIE offers a $200 prize to the school parent club that sells the most tickets. Last yearís winner was Donlon, which sold more than 60 tickets, narrowly edging out Walnut Grove by a handful.
ìWe have a great group of parents at Donlon,î said Marti Scalise, Donlonís PPIE ambassador. ìThe event last year was so fabulous, the tickets this year are selling themselves. Iíve sold 29 so far. Our parents cannot wait to go again.î
At last yearís event, Donlonís culinary team, featuring principal Marc Schweitzer, Shawn Batoy of Robert Half International and 1st Street Café chef David Kerrigan, also won the ìpeopleís choice awardî for its grilled salmon entree.
