East Mt. Airy Neighbors brings back annual fundraiser with a nod to entire neighborhood

East Mt. Airy Neighbors is bringing back its annual fundraiser after a two-year hiatus, but with a different name and atmosphere.

“A Toast to Mt. Airy” aims to celebrate the entire neighborhood, both east and west sides, said Jimmy Reed, EMAN board member.

“We wanted to come back with a bang and make an event about the whole community,” said Reed..

The evening of dinner and dancing will take place on Saturday, Oct. 17 at the Brossman Center at The Lutheran Theological Seminary, 7301 Germantown Ave.

Celebrating a neighborhood’s excellence

One of the ways EMAN intends to salute the neighborhood is by formally acknowledging the first EMAN Community Fund recipients. Together, the nine local non-profit organizations were awarded grants this year totaling nearly $100,000.

The donor-advised fund was created from more than $1 million in liquidated assets following the sale of EMAN Community Living in 2009.

EMAN will also present a Toast of Mt. Airy award to one resident for outstanding community service.

What’s on the menu?

The non-formal event will feature four main food stations, serving up small plates that reflect the diversity of the neighborhood, Reed said. Attendees can expect Italian, soul food, Southeast Asian and Indian cuisine, catered by Reed’s Little Jimmie’s Bakery Cafe and Jyoti Indian Bistro.

Desserts will be provided by Little Jimmie’s Bake House. There will also be an open bar offering wine and beer, plus a coffee bar.

A live band and a disc jockey will play dance music for those who want to get down and boogie with their neighbors.

Reed said this year’s fundraiser was put together on a tight budget, but EMAN hopes to expand things next time around by featuring a wider array of local restaurants.

In recent years, EMAN has partnered with Awbury Arboretum and The Lutheran Theological Seminary to host annual “Cooking with Who?” fundraising dinners with guest chefs. That event, however, has been put on hold for the next year or two, Reed said.