The Garces Family Foundation launch is the toque of the town
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<p>After taking the non-perishable items out of the boxes, the students quickly began making piles for North Light Community Center's cupboard. (Yasmein James/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>The Student Leadership team poses with the 2,316 items collected for North Light Community Center's food cupboard. (Photo courtesy of Steve Masterson)</p>
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<p>Jessica Craighead carries a box to to the North Light Community Center van to be sorted through. (Yasmein James/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Seventh grade student Ben Gongon poses with his tower of beans. (Yasmein James/for NewsWorks)</p>
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<p>Chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson of Sampan, the St. James (left), and Iron Chef Jose Garces of Amada, Tinto and co-founder of the Garces Family Foundation (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Garces Family Foundation board member Dave Maser and Allison Young (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Kimmel Center President and CEO Anne Ewers (left), Matthew Pantaleno, and Alicia Vitarelli (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Penn Nursing School Dean Dr. Afaf I. Meleis (left), Judge Marjorie "Midge" Rendell, and Melissa Heller (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Chef Jose Garces plates up the VIP dinner with top Philadelphia chefs Michael Solomonov, Jeff Michaud, Jonathan "Mac" Adams, Pierre Camels, Tim Spinner and Kevin Sbraga. (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Mayor Michael Nutter and his wife Lisa with Steven Larson, event honoree and executive director and co-founder of Puentes de Salud (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Dr. Beatriz Garces and her husband Jose, founders of the Garces Family Foundation, with Steven Larson, event honoree and executive director and co-founder of Puentes de Salud (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>A salsa troupe from Hip Parties performs at the Garces Family Foundation's first annual Gala at the Kimmel Center, Oct. 10. (Photo courtesy of HughE Dillon)</p>
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<p>Chef Sylva Senat of Tashan, Mark Bee owner of Silk City & North 3rd, Mike Stollenwerk of fish and Rhino Bar both located at 1234 Locust St., fish/Rhino GM Joe Schiano and Rhino server Tim Williams (Photos courtesy of Hugh E Dillon)</p>
Brought to you by Freemans Auctioneers, The Circuit, with Caroline Stewart, takes you to The Kimmel Center’s Hamilton Rooftop Garden for the Garces Family Foundation inaugural gala. Become a regular of our new blog to keep up with the hottest philanthropic events.
As if owning 15 restaurants in five cities from Philadelphia to Palm Springs, running a catering company, selling specialty food products and writing two books weren’t enough, Iron Chef Jose Garces and his wife, Dr. Beatriz Garces, launched their very own non-profit, the Garces Family Foundation, at a gala held Oct. 10 at the Kimmel Center.
The organization’s mission is to serve Philadelphia’s immigrant community by funding healthcare and nutritional programming. At its first event, the Garces Family Foundation honored Dr. Steven Larson, co-founder and executive director of Puentes de Salud (Bridges of Health), which provides healthcare, education, and outreach to the Latino community in South Philadelphia.
Guests enjoyed a gala event with a VIP dinner for 100 of the Foundation’s top donors at the Kimmel’s Hamilton Rooftop Garden and heavy grazing in the Kimmel’s lobby for an additional 300 guests. Chefs Marc Vetri, Kevin Sbraga, Michael Solomonov, Jonathan Adams, Joey Baldino, Pierre Calmels, Terence Feury, David Gilberg, Carla Goncalves, Jeff Michaud, and Konstantinos Pitsillides, along with Michael Schulson, Sylva Senat, Tim Spinner, Mike Stollenwerk, and Hiroyuki “Zama” Tanaka joined Chef Garces and Garces Group chefs Adam Zensinger, Dave Berg and pastry chef Jessica Mogardo to prepare the evenings eats.
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