On Saturday, August 22nd, Walk With Sally hosted its 9th Annual White Light White Night in El Segundo, CA. Although the food and drinks are always delicious, it’s the heart of this event that brings people back year after year to experience one of the most highly anticipated parties of the South Bay summer season.
Nick Arquette started this charity in honor of his mother who passed away due to cancer and it has become a beacon of hope in the South Bay for those who have lost someone to cancer.
Fox Sports host, Jessica Rosales welcomed special guests as the evening began on the red carpet. Local notables included Supervisor for the 4th District of LA County candidate, Steve Napolitano and restaurateur Michael Zislis; Chef Deven Alexander, Cookbook author and Host of Healthy Decadence on Fit TV; and Walk With Sally Mentor, Amy Dorr. Celebrities like James Anderson (NFL player for the Dallas Cowboys) and Carissa Rosario, International Maxim Model, were also in attendance.
So many local restaurants donate their time and delectable food and drinks to make this a foodie heaven it’s hard to know where to start first in describing everything. I tasted gnocchi that was to die for, raspberry crème desserts that were so flavorful I had to go back for seconds, lots of great new wines, and refreshing Manhattan Margaritas.
Lido Di Manhattan, which you may recognize from Lisa Hemmat’s appearance on Chef Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares a few years back, presented, as did The Strand House and so many others I lost count.
I was a bad foodie because I was so busy eating I forgot to take pictures to share with you all! Just trust me, it was all delicious! You’ll have to attend next year to see and taste for yourself.
Nordstrom kept us all entertained with their unique photo booth complete with white hats and sunglasses which announced their upcoming Grand Opening on Friday, October 9 at the newly remodeled Del Amo Fashion Square.
KCAL 9 News Reporter, Serene Branson hosted the evening’s formal program and presented The Beacon of Light Award, which honors individuals who give above and beyond, year after year to help grow Walk With Sally’s mission. The 2015 recipient was Todd Klawin of Our Media Group, LLC and South Bay Magazine.
Serene also honored Walk With Sally Mentor, Maureen McBride, and mentee, Isabel “Izzy” Ramirez, who were both honored with the Friendship of the Year Award. Maureen, who lost her father to lymphoma in 1998, was matched with Izzy more than eight years ago. It was very moving to see their love for each other as they described how participating in Walk With Sally changed their lives for the better.
Walk With Sally raised over $220,000 net which will benefit their free-of-charge mentoring support programs and services that provide an emotionally safe environment for children who are debilitated by the emotional experience of living with, or losing a parent or sibling, to cancer. For more information on Walk With Sally, please visit their website at http://www.walkwithsally.org.
- Walk With Sally’s White Light White Night