More than 500 guests recently attended the 45th annual AbilityFirst Festival of Fall at the historic Laurabelle A. Robinson House. Guests, including Congresswoman Judy Chu, Pasadena Police Chief John Perez and AbilityFirst Champion Awardee 5th District Supervisor Kathyrn Barger, enjoyed delicious dishes and drinks from more than 25 top chefs, restaurants, cocktail bars, wineries and breweries, along with a live culinary demonstration featuring liquid nitrogen from Super Cool Creamery.
As attendees tasted truffle mac and cheese from Mi Piace, savory pasta from Celestino Ristorante, and sipped Krafted Spirits Rum, Dulce Vida Tequila and Island Old Fashioneds from the Raymond 1886, they perused the many coveted silent auction items and explored the beautiful estate, owned by hosts Phaedra and Mark Ledbetter. The grounds included a basketball court, teepee, infinity pool and gorgeous landscaping all around. As the sun set, guests sat down to prepare for the program, which featured a personal story from an AbilityFirst program participant, and the main fundraiser of the evening — the live auction.
Jeff Michael of KCBS was the emcee for the evening and Mark Schustrin auctioned off luxury trips, culinary experiences and more. All the proceeds from the evening, amounting to more than $260,000, will directly benefit AbilityFirst, which provides a variety of programs designed to help people with disabilities achieve their full potential throughout their lives.
