Archive for the ‘Charity Involvement’ Category

2011 First Crush Charity Gala Shines at Tempe Center for the Arts

Monday, November 14th, 2011

Santa Barbara Catering Company catered the 2011 First Crush Charity Gala on Friday, October 21, 2011 at Tempe Center for the Arts.   Lauren Guthrie, President of the Tempe Community Action Agency Board, and Director of Sales & Event Production at Santa Barbara Catering Company had this to say about the successful fundraising event “Santa Barbara Catering is thrilled to be a Sponsor of TCAA’s First Crush Gala. This fabulous event raises valuable funds supporting the great work TCAA does in our community, and helping thousands of families every year!”

The profitable event drew over 250 attendees, and raised over $41,000 in funding for programs that help children, seniors, homeless individuals and working-poor families in Tempe.

Lobby

North Patio

The festive setting at Tempe Center for the Arts allowed guests to mingle and dine inside the Lobby, and outdoors on the North Patio beside the sparkling Reflecting Pool.  The views of the newly-opened, brilliantly-blue Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge made the perfect backdrop to showcase this event.

Tempe Town Lake Pedestrian Bridge

Music was provided by renowned musician Alice Tatum and her Jazz band.

Alice Tatum Jazz Band

Guests were delighted with the menu featuring four food stations with ingredients inspired by Native American, Mexican and Southwestern cuisine, as well as a focus on local Arizona ingredients. Guests enjoyed:

- Pork, Chicken and Cheese Enchiladas made Tableside
- Dos Equis-Braised Beef Short Ribs and Poblano Whipped Potatoes Topped with Baby Arugula and a Dollop of Mexican Crèma

Sautéed Sweet Mexican Shrimp with Smoked Tomato Grits

- Sautéed Sweet Mexican Shrimp Served atop Smoked Tomato Grits and Petite Cilantro

Nopales Fritters with Chipotle Aioli

- Nopales (Cactus) Fritters Topped with Chipotle Aioli
- Sweet Potato & Green Chili Tamales with Ancho Braised Pork
- Sweet Corn Tamales with Queso Fresco
- Grilled Salmon Skewers with Lavender Butter Sauce
- Grilled Vegetable Platter, Finished With a Honey Glaze
- Local Tepary Bean Purée with Grilled Breads

Butternut Squash Soup Sips with Shredded Beef Empanadas

- Butternut Squash Soup Sips presented in Espresso Cups and Topped with Toasted Coriander and Crème Fraîche, and served with Shredded Beef Empanadas
- Local Citrus Fruit Salad including Tangerines, Tangelos, Oranges,
Grapefruit and Blood Oranges

Pecan, Brown Sugar and Sweet Potato Empanadas

Southwestern Dessert Minis:
- Pecan, Brown Sugar, and Sweet Potato Empanadas
- “Farmer’s Cheese” Organic Cheesecake Bites
- Tres Leches
- Caramel Pot De Crème
- Local-Date Cake

A very special thanks to the vendors who contributed to this event:

Action Wine
Alice Tatum Jazz Band
Aztec Specialty Produce
European Imports, Ltd.
Four Peaks Brewery
Pro Em Professional Event Management
Shamrock Foods

For information about being a First Crush Event Sponsor or volunteering at the Tempe Community Action Agency:

Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA)
2150 E. Orange Street, Tempe, Arizona 85281
Telephone: 480 350 5822
bethf@tempeaction.org
www.tempeaction.org

Posted in Charity Involvement, Community, Events, Tempe Center for the Arts | No Comments »

Pat Christofolo Wins Service in Action Award

Tuesday, November 23rd, 2010

Each year the Tempe Community Action Agency (TCAA) gives the Barbara Norton Service in Action Award to one outstanding individual who gives with his or her heart and goes above and beyond the call of duty to address the needs of others in our community. Here at Santa Barbara Catering, we are honored that our owner, Pat Christofolo received this year’s award.

The TCAA has formed many programs to assist low-income and fixed-income families in the community.  They have recognized Pat for her continual advocacy and contribution to the programs, people and areas of need in the city of Tempe.

Every year, TCAA hosts a fundraiser called the First Crush Charity Gala with gourmet food stations for guests, live music and silent auction. Pat graciously donates the food, linens, and decor every year for the fundraiser.  She also assists with event coordination, securing a full donation of tables, chairs, lighting and other rentals for the event. Additionally, Santa Barbara Catering donates food each year to the I-HELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program) program through TCAA for the homeless.  This program strives to provide lodging and comfort for those without shelter and supplies this to an average of 30 homeless people a night, seven nights a week. Pat has been a major contributor to this program.

In addition to donating food to TCAA, Pat was president of the board of the Tempe Community Action Agency. Her efforts have been an integral part of the TCAA, as well as the Tempe community in general.

Please join us in congratulating Pat.  It is an honor to work with her. She is truly deserving of such a special award.

Posted in Awards, Charity Involvement, Community | No Comments »

Tempe Council Members and Santa Barbara Catering Hosted BBQ to Aid Tempe’s Less Fortunate

Thursday, June 17th, 2010

When we learned Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman had previously been in the catering business, we worked with Hallman and members of Tempe’s City Council to put on an event that would give back to the community.

On June 9th our employees and their families met at the Community Christian Church to help serve dinner to those in need through IHELP (Interfaith Homeless Emergency Lodging Program). Helping to serve the food from the Tempe City Council were Vice Mayor Shana Ellis, Councilmember Corey Woods, Councilmember Joel Navarro and his children, and Assistant City Manager Jeff Kulaga.

While many people leave the Valley of the Sun during summer months, the need for food, water and cool shelter still exists for the area’s less fortunate. The summer climate can be deadly for those who are in need.

Tempe Community Action Agency’s IHELP program provides lodging and comfort for an average of 30 homeless people in the community at different faith-based locations each night. Dinner and overnight shelter is provided seven nights per week.

Our executive chef Lex Heijiligers prepared a barbeque-themed meal, which included St. Louis-style BBQ ribs and chicken, jicama coleslaw, homemade red potato salad with apple cider-bacon dressing, corn cob bites, ranchero beans slow-cooked with Southwest spices and herbs, freshly-baked corn bread and Granny Smith cinnamon-apple cobbler with streusel topping and vanilla ice cream.

The IHELP dinner was a great success! Our employees and their family members were excited to have this opportunity to reach out and help those in need in Tempe. We appreciated the opportunity to volunteer, and we look forward to partnering with IHELP and TCAA again soon.

Posted in Charity Involvement, Community, Events | No Comments »