The Taste of Ladera has become Ladera Ranch’s own community outreach program to help support each other!
This year’s Taste has relocated to the spacious Founders Park and is designed to generate funds for a total of 22 charities that are dedicated to making the community a better place for everyone.
Now in its fourth year, the Taste has raised almost 100K for a number of charities in the area.
The Unforgettable Foundation, Alzheimer’s Association, The Moms Club of Ladera, The Tinkerbell Guild (CHOC), Laura’s House, Alex’s Lemonade Stand, The Ladera Education Foundation, CUSD Foundation, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Walk the Talk will have booths at the event.
Kinecta Federal Credit Union, AYSO, Ocean Academy, React Foundation, Got College Funding, Child Share - this organization helps with awareness and support of both Foster and Adoptive kids in Orange County, and the U.S. Navy and Marines are just a few of the groups represented at Taste of Ladera.
Here are 10 Top activities at this year’s Taste of Ladera.
1. The fun starts at the Riptide Rockin’ Sushi & Teppan Grills booth where award-winning executive sushi chef Ken Cruz and his staff will serve a variety of specialty cut rolls and hand rolls. Teppanyaki Grill legend "Bud-weiser Ken" will entertain with Sake Bombs and flying shrimp.
2. Taste of Ladera Presenting Sponsor TouchPointe, a senior level recruiting and consulting firm based in Ladera Ranch, has worked hard to deliver an amazing event with proceeds to benefit numerous charities
3. Pacific Whey owner Marc Wilsey and Taste of Ladera sponsor continues to integrate into the community and is constantly looking for ways to become involved and give back to the community. "Ladera is a young community with a young demographic and huge need for support," Marc says.
4. Taste of Ladera added the CUSD Foundation (Capo Unified School District), an independent, nonprofit dedicated to fundraising for the benefit off all the students in the Capo Unified School District (see story on page XX).
5. BeachFire Bar and Grill will offer an assortment of beer and wine, and tasty coconut shrimp will be on hand! You will find Beachfire part of all the events in the community as they truly embrace the idea of giving.
6. The Unforgettables Foundation helps families who have suffered the unthinkable death of a child by providing support and financial assistance to families with limited resources to help offset the costs of final arrangements. The Foundation serves families in Riverside, San Bernardino and Orange Counties with plans to expand. Requests come from hospitals, social service agencies, and families. Since its creation in 2001, over 1,200 families have been assisted.
7. Infusion Restaurant and Martini Bar is known for its fine cuisine, refreshing martinis and a friendly atmospheres. It has become "the Cheers" of Ladera Ranch. The owners Lonnie and Claire Shepard are a husband and wife team, whose vision became a reality of being a part of the community, where regulars consider Infusion as their dining room away from home.
At the Taste, Infusion is going high class with its martinis and samples of their most prized dishes. It’s "Martinis in the City" with a special appearance by the Real Housewives of Orange County who will be serving up XXX martinis and the signature "Ladera-tini" poured from a towering ice luge.
8. The Ladera Ranch Education Foundation was created to raise funds to enrich and improve the quality of the educational environment at the public schools that serve the community.
"The Taste of Ladera is a great community event where residents can have fun, have some great food, listen to music and learn about what is going on in our community," said LREF President Sherry Brooks. "It provides us with an opportunity to raise funds for our schools while also providing residents an opportunity to learn about LREF." Sherry Brooks
9. The Tinkerbell Guild of CHOC is a volunteer organization of women committed to raising funds to support the growth and development of Children’s Hospital Orange County and CHOC at Mission. Chartered in 2003, the Tinkerbell Guild serves Ladera Ranch and surrounding areas.
The guild grown from 25 to 120 members in a few short years. Tinkerbell has raised over to $500,000 for CHOC since 2003 by hosting annual galas, selling Christmas Cards, walking as a team in CHOC walk and participating in local community events such as Taste of Ladera.
Membership for the 2008-2009 year will take place in late summer. For more information on how to join the guild or donate to CHOC please visit the website at www.tinkerbellguild.com.
10. Alexandra Scott first held a lemonade stand in 2003 to help her doctors find a cure for childhood cancers. She lost her own battle in 2004, but not before raising a million dollars. Her family, and volunteers around the country, continue to be inspired by Alex’s dream to find a cure for childhood cancer, one cup at a time. Alex’s Lemonade Stand has raised over $17M since it first began, and the money goes straight to research.
"As a mom who has watched her child fight to survive, I love that this money goes where it is needed most, to help find a cure for pediatric cancers," says Kim Sprague, of Ladera Ranch, an ALSF fundraiser whose seven-year-old son Andrew is an acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivor.
The Ladera Times is the official program for this year’s Taste of Ladera.
(Michelle Patterson is founder and managing partner of TouchPointe, headquarter in Ladera Ranch. TouchPointe is a senior level consulting and recruiting firm, specializing in the placement of finance, accounting, IT, and human resources in both interim and permanent positions. You can contact TouchPointe at 949-218-0866 or at www.touchpointe.com.)