Hundreds support at-risk youth among us at ‘Cherish Food Fight’
When it comes to supporting at-risk youth in Monterey County, non-profit Aspiranet and the Cherish Receiving Center are at the heart of it. The 2015 Cherish Food Fight on Sunday putting junior chefs and professional chefs on teams to compete for bragging rights to support foster youth was a huge success.
The Portola Hotel and Spa’s DeAnza ballroom dance floor became the chef’s kitchen on Sunday and some 250 supporters came to raise money for the Cherish Receiving Center in Monterey. Final numbers haven’t been released yet, but thousands of dollars was raised by many generous supporters.
Junior Chefs included 9 yr. old Madison Brown, 11 yr. old Emelie Engelhardt, 11 yr. old Jordan English, 11 yr. old Kami Peralta, 10 yr. old Milani Urbina, and 8 yr. old Alitssa Espinal.
The Junior Chefs were joined by local executive Chefs Tony Baker from Montrio Bistro, Todd Fisher from Tarpy’s Roadhouse, Colin Moody from Monterey Peninsula Country Club, and Jason Giles from Jacks Restaurant & Lounge.
In the end, after appetizer and entre’ competitions, ‘Team Kung Food Fighters’ took the crown slightly over ‘Team Spicy Meatballs’.
You can still fund-a-child at the Cherish Receiving Center. Go to www.Aspiranet.org. And go to the supporters tab and click on ‘become a supporter.’
It costs $50 for a foster youth to spend 24 hours at the Cherish Receiving Center. The center provides all the comforts of home and the support a child needs at the most vulnerable of times during domestic trials in their life, that time it takes to get them into a foster home. It truly is a safe haven for at-risk youth.
As a proud sponsor of the Cherish Food Fight, KION-News Channel 5 and the Central Coast CW would like to thank all who came and supported the at-risk youth among us.