AbilityFirst proudly announces the 50th Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, coming up on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm and in celebration of this milestone, the event will take place at a new and enchanting location: The Urquhart Residence in South Pasadena!
AbilityFirst is pleased to honor Greg & Heba Wood as this year’s festival underscores its commitment to recognizing outstanding contributions. With Event Co-Chairs Anita Lawlerand Mary Spellman, and Emcee Nancy Longo, the 50th Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, a landmark outdoor event renowned for its gourmet food and beverage tastings will bring over 400 guests that will have the opportunity to indulge in culinary delights featuring more than 20 top restaurants, cocktail bars, wineries, and breweries and more. As AbilityFirst marks this special anniversary, this year’s festival promises an evening filled with exquisite flavors, entertainment, and a vibrant celebration of AbilityFirst's mission.
Some of this year’s AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival Restaurants and Desserts include Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Beard Papa’s, Bone Kettle, El Cholo Café, Gale’s Restaurant, Kensington Caterers, Lord Empanada, Marina, Mi Piace, Nothing Bundt Cake, Pocha LA, Porto’s Bakery, Stems: Cheese, Charcuterie & Catering, Tam O’Shanter, The George, We Olive & Wine Bar, and more.
Beverages featured include Cocktails and Spirit Tastings from 1886 at The Raymond,Dulce Vida Tequila, Empress 1908 Gin, Gerlach’s, Knox & Dobson, and Old Hillside Bourbon Company; Craft Beer from Golden Road Brewing, San Gabriel’s Ogopogo Brewing, along with specially curated Wines from Caymus Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, and Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery. Non-alcoholic Beverages provided by Celsius, and PepsiCo.
For 98 years, AbilityFirst has been at the forefront of providing person-centered programs to empower individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other intellectual and developmental disabilities. These programs guide individuals through each life transition, fostering social connections, independence, and providing essential employment preparation, training, and experience.
Proceeds from this year’s 50th Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will directly benefit AbilityFirst's programs which help an individual successfully transition from childhood to adult life; providing employment preparation, training, and experience; build social connections and independence; and offer participants and their caregivers an opportunity to refresh and recharge through recreational activities. AbilityFirst’s person-centered programs empower individuals to discover what is important to them in their lives, and to develop the skills that are important for them to achieve their goals.
Sponsors: Sponsors include Chubb, Bank of America, Los Angeles Supervisor Kathryn Barger, Longo Toyota-Lexus/Penske Motor Group, The Fletcher Jones Foundation, Umpqua Bank, East West Bank, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate Companies, Enterprise Holdings Foundation, GHJ, IMA, J’s Maids, Wendy Lees and Tom Boyle, and many more.
Food & Wine Festival Steering Committee: Anita Lawler (Committee Co-Chair), Mary Spellman (Committee Co-Chair), Devon Anderson, Anita Besharat, Steve Brockmeyer, John Nilson, Julietta Perez, Harlan Thompson, Bill Ukropina and Melissa Wu.
Ticket Information: The 50th Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival will take place on Sunday, June 9th, 2024, from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Urquhart Residence in South Pasadena. For more information and to purchase Tickets directly to this year’s 50th AnnualAbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival, please visit Tickets to the 50th Annual AbilityFirst Food & Wine Festival 2024.