The March of Dimes raised $477,000 at its annual Signature Chefs Auction on September 23. During this year’s event, more than 450 March of Dimes supporters joined award-winning chef Ari Rosenson of Cut Restaurant to pay tribute to the area’s culinary scene with an evening of featured chef demonstrations from A.O.C., Sugar Fish, FIG and Lazy Ox as well as wine tastings from some of California’s most treasured wineries, including Silver Oak, Cakebread, Duckhorn and Caymus. “The evening was vibrant, it was electric, and it was heartwarming, Leslie Margolin, Board Chair of the March of Dimes Greater Los Angeles Division said. “Hundreds of our friends and supporters came out to help us as event sponsors, table hosts, enthusiastic bidders at our silent and live auctions, and as contributors of simply phenomenal food, wine and auction items.”
Margolin remains optimistic that the March of Dimes will continue to raise larger sums of money for such a worthy cause in the coming years. “People opened their hearts, and they opened their wallets to support us in our quest to put an end to prematurity, to help us assure that one day, all babies will be borne healthy,” she said. “When I took over as Board Chair two years ago, I set as a goal to put this uniquely California event on the path to becoming a million dollar fundraiser. In two years, we moved the event from tens of thousands of dollars to a half-million dollars. I have no doubt that next year we will reach the million-dollar mark. For this, I am grateful to Steve Henning and the members of the Host Committee who turned heaven and earth to make this event such a smashing success.”
The March of Dimes continues to fulfill its 74-year-old promise that started with President Franklin Roosevelt’s establishment of the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis to improve the lives of babies. Proceeds from the auction benefit March of Dimes education, research and advocacy programs designed to ensure babies grow up healthy and strong.
Event Chair Stephen J. Henning lauded the annual auction’s growing popularity. “Never before has Los Angeles had such highly-rated chefs gather together in one room in such an exclusive setting to raise money for charity,” he said. “Regardless of the barometer you use to figure out the top restaurants, the participating chefs are the best of the best Los Angeles has to offer.”