For Immediate Release

Arika Daniels
Scatena Daniels Communications

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Mama’s Kitchen Marks 25^th Anniversary with Unique Farm to Table Celebration

Sept. 26 fundraiser aims to raise 50 percent of organization’s annual food budget

San Diego – June 26, 2015 – Mama’s Kitchen announces its 25^th Anniversary Celebration on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Illumina Campus located at 5200 Illumina Way in University City. The event aims to raise $500,000, half of the organization’s annual food budget, to continue the delivery of hot, nutrition-specific meals free of charge to local men, women, and children affected by AIDS or cancer.

“Food is love, and Mama’s Kitchen is an expression of that love,” said Alberto Cortés, executive director, Mama’s Kitchen. “Money raised from the 25^th Anniversary Celebration will allow us to continue our mission and continue expanding our services to those who need nutrition and love while they battle AIDS or cancer.”

More than 350 guests will dine on a delightful farm to table menu served in a family style setting while sipping on signature cocktails and complementary beverages. Menu items will include comfort foods such as boneless fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, roasted root vegetables and more prepared by Just Call Us Catering, as well as the infamous Urban Solace cheddar biscuits with bacon jam, and Elizabethan Desserts’ scrumptious mini-pies. All the proteins and produce are being locally sourced, with much of it donated by local farms. Under the stars, guests will have the ability to bid on numerous high-end, live auction items designed to provide a “Food is Love” experience and participate in a special Golden Macaron raffle, where one lucky person will win a dinner for six at Addison. Kicking off the evening’s entertainment is a band comprised of some of San Diego’s most notable chefs, as well as a DJ to close out the evening.

Chairing the 25^th Celebration are Jon Bailey and Indra Gardiner Bowers, two long-time San Diegans, who met at one of Mama’s Kitchen’s first events 25 years ago. The connection between the two stood the test of time as the pair opened Bailey Gardiner, one of San Diego’s premiere advertising and public relations agencies. In 2012 they launched i.d.e.a., an integrated communications shop focused on courageous brands. “We believe the theme, Food is Love, speaks to what Mama’s Kitchen has served throughout the San Diego community for 25 years,” said Indra Gardiner Bowers. “The food, music, service and environment will all celebrate the feeling that Mama’s Kitchen shares on a daily basis.”

Honorary co-chairs for Mama’s Kitchen’s 25^th Celebration include Jeanne Jones, Don Breitenberg, John Thornton and James Bowers.

Tickets are available for just $150 per person. Premium VIP (Very Important Patron) tickets are available for $300 each, which includes early access at 5:30 p.m. to an exclusive pre-party featuring exclusive food tastings, cult wines and a mixology presentation by Sam “the Cooking Guy” Zien before the doors open to general admission attendees at 6:00 p.m.

Donors may also support the 25^th Celebration, even if they aren’t able to attend, by “Stocking Mama’s Shelves.” There are opportunities ranging from stocking the kitchen shelves for one full week for $20,000 to providing milk for one month for $2,300 to buying bananas for a day for $100.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.mamaskitchen.org. Sponsorships are available. For more information, please contact Aimee Halfpenny at (619) 233-6262 or aimee@mamaskitchen.org.

Event Calendar Details

Mama’s Kitchen’s 25^th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, Sept. 26, 2015

5:30 p.m. VIP Reception / 6:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. General Admission

Illumina Campus (University City)

5200 Illumina Way
San Diego, CA 92122

Tickets: $150 (General); $300 (VIP)

More info and to purchase tickets: www.mamaskitchen.org

Mama’s Kitchen’s Impact

In Mama’s Kitchen’s 25 years of service, 7.5 million meals have been served and tens of thousands of individuals have been helped through their illness.

Last year Mama’s Kitchen delivered:

• 284,925 meals to 394 San Diegans affected by HIV/AIDS
• 70,602 meals to 196 San Diegans affected by cancer
• 46,584 meals to 106 children whose parents were affected by HIV/AIDS or cancer

Volunteers are the heart and soul of Mama’s Kitchen. As of Dec. 31, 2014, over 5,500 volunteers have donated 843,139 hours of service to the organization, an estimated value of $15,048,254.

About Mama’s Kitchen

Celebrating its 25^th anniversary, Mama’s Kitchen was founded when volunteers from the AIDS Assistance Fund discovered that many of their clients were becoming too ill to take care of themselves. They realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious, life-sustaining food. In 2004, Mama’s Pantry was opened to provide individuals with HIV/AIDS who are able to prepare meals the opportunity to supplement their nutritional needs. Mama’s Kitchen has served over seven million meals since it was founded and has never turned away a client who qualified for our services. Our commitment to our clients remains unchanged. Today, the organization has expanded its service to San Diegans affected by either AIDS or cancer. Mama’s Kitchen provides three meals a day, for every day of the year, free of charge, to approximately 350 men, women, and children in San Diego County. Learn more and make a donation at www.mamaskitchen.org. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Outlets to distribute:

San Diego Union-Tribune

San Diego Magazine

Riviera Magazine

Ranch & Coast

CityBeat

La Jolla Light

La Jolla Village News

Rancho Santa Fe News

GAY SD

Downtown News – covers i.d.e.a

City Height Life

Rage Monthly

Patch.com

SDGLN

KPBS

KUSI

CBS 8

San Diego 6 / XETV

Channel 10

NBC San Diego

Fox 5 San Diego

Univision

El Latino

La Frontera

La Prensa

Univision Radio

Public Affairs radio shows

Media Partners

Food bloggers – we have internal list

Family lifestyle bloggers – we have internal list

***We will also post event to our online calendar list