On June 23, 2012, Sacramento will be treated to the Sacramento Chef Challenge, an annual fundraiser for people with developmental disabilities that features an "Iron Chef" style cooking battle, Cake War competition, gourmet food sampling, beer and wine tasting, live music and more! For $25 a piece, guests are treated to a culinary extravaganza beginning with fair from local restaurants, wineries and breweries including The Couch Sports Lounge, Two Rivers Cider, Terra d’Oro Winery and Morgan’s Restaurant. The first of two competitions will pit three professional chefs in a head to head battle for culinary glory. Chef Challengers will have three hours to prepare and sample an original menu

SACRAMENTO, CA – Stanford Youth Solutions, formerly Stanford Home for Children, announced today that Chevo Ramirez and Amelia and Vincent Semper will be awarded the 2012 Distinguished Service Awards. They will be recognized on April 26, 2012 at the North Ridge Country Club in Fair Oaks at Vintage 2012 —Stanford Youth Solutions’ 7th Annual Wine Auction. Chevo Ramirez is the Regional Vice President of the Wells Fargo Foundation for the Northern California Region and is this year’s Community Honoree. Foster parents Amelia and Vincent Semper are the Family Honorees. “The Distinguished Service Award is presented annually to those who have made long-standing, commendable and considerable contr

Old Soul, the city’s popular Midtown coffee house will open its doors to a benefit for WEAVE, the Sacramento organization dedicated to preventing violence against women on Saturday, April 14 in a Second Saturday reception from 6 to 9 PM. Rubicon Beer will be poured and receipts will go directly to WEAVE. WEAVE was established in 1978 as a nonprofit organization to serve domestic violence survivors and their families in Sacramento County and its Safehouse is the only state recognized, confidential shelter serving all domestic violence victims in the County. It offers counseling and school-based prevention services and has been honored by numerous government agencies and private institution

Community Against Sexual Harm (CASH) will be holding an evening benefit on Thursday, May 3, 2012. CASH is non-profit organization that not only provides assistance for victims of sexual exploitation, sex trafficking and prostitution, but also offers hope for the victims' futures. CASH is the only agency whose mission is to serve adult victims of sexual exploitation in Sacramento. CASH staff, many of whom are former sex industry workers themselves, and volunteers, provide, amongst other services, outreach, peer counseling, support groups, food, clothing, and housing assistance. In addition to helping former victims, CASH provides information and training to community groups and other profe

At this Wednesday’s Hearts for the Arts Benefit Event (6pm-9pm at Alex Bult Gallery) artists, community leaders, and Sacramento’s finest convene to celebrate and raise funds for Any Given Child Sacramento. This initiative, spearheaded by For Arts’ Sake, strives to ensure that art experiences are accessible to every child in grades K-8. As a part of this fun, alternative event you can treat your Valentine to a night like no other, all while supporting a great cause and enjoying an evening of art, music, cocktails, and refreshments. Esteemed auctioneer David Sobon will auction off “heart-works” donated donated by over 24 local artists, including Raphael Delgado, Shane Grammer, and Micah Cr

The Undy 5000 5K Run/Walk to fight colon cancer is coming to Sacramento for the first time ever. It will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 3, at William Land Park, kicking off March, which is also Colon Cancer Awareness Month. The event is one of three Undy 5000 races in March. Participants are encouraged to run in their underwear as a tongue-in-cheek reference to the area affected by colon cancer. “We wanted to have a great start to Colon Cancer Awareness Month,” said Todd Setter, National Undy 5000 Event Director. “We know Sacramento will be a great host for the region’s first Undy 5000 event. A portion of the funds raised from the 2012 Sacramento Undy 5000 will be given to our

Bob Stanley, Poet Laureate, and the Brubeck Jazz Institute have been refining Saturday, November 19 evening's, performance at California Stage (25th and R streets).  The Wonder Of This Moment, Jazz and Poetry Live featuring James Humphrey's poetry with Bob Stanley, Norma Humphrey and son, Saroyan, Eve West Bessier, Lawrence Dinkins, and Mary Zeppa.  Beginning at 7 p.m., there will be wine and food tastings, a raffle with 17 prizes, the sale of the poet's books.  It will be an intense show with music composed for nearly all the poetry.  Quoting a prominent poet, Bob Stanley, "This is going to be quite an event!"  A donation of $25  for Stanford Home for Children is requested.  Call (916) 24

Throughout his 50 years as a poet, James Humphrey (1939-2006), twice nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature, commited himself to the one thing he could do, write about his challenging babyhood, youth and teen years to teach elementary through college-aged individuals how to overcome their abuse.  It was a rich legacy of works, both words and abstract art, "too rich to leave behind", his widow of 43 years, said.  Fellow poet, Charles Bukowski (1920-1994) wrote: "Humphrey's poems--believe them.  He's lived them.  He knows that pain and suffering bloom like eternal flowers.  He knows that trying is the one thing we have left." A retired librarian from NY, Mrs. Humphrey moved to Sacrame

On Saturday, November 19, the Sacramento Cat Hospital will host its third annual pet food drive, benefiting Titanic's Pantry (the Sacramento Pet Food Bank). All donations of cat and dog food, canned or dry, will help feed hungry animals throughout Sacramento. The pet food drive will be held from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Sacramento Cat Hospital, 4115 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael. In addition to pet food, donations of leashes, collars, cat litter, bedding, and other pet supplies are welcome. "If a family is having a tough time paying the bills or feeding their children, they may not be able to feed their pet," said Dr. Billie Bensen Martin, owner of the Sacramento Cat Hospital. "Thi

The Sacramento Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure® will be recognizing the contributions of outstanding community partners on Sunday, October 9 at Arden Hills Resort & Spa, announced retiring Executive Director Donna Sanderson. “We are fortunate to have the support of outstanding community partners during my tenure as Executive Director of Komen Sacramento” said Sanderson. “The time has come to give them the public recognition they so richly deserve.” Among the award recipients will be: Joyce Raley Teel, co-chair of the Raley’s Board of Directors, who brought the full strength of  the Raley’s Family of Fine Stores resources to help in the fight against breast cancer.  Raley

A child is reported abused or neglected every minute in America. The Child Abuse Prevention Center is working to change that. The CAP Center serves more than 140,000 children annually and manages the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento, Inc., Safe Kids California, Lift the Children and Prevent Child Abuse California. Pour for Prevention was a benefit held for the CAP Center that incorporated food, art and, of course, lots of wine, with 100 percent of the proceeds going toward preventing child abuse. Over 16 vintners and eateries participated, and 15 artists displayed works in Jon Stevenson's historic three-story home/gallery/special events venue located on 1724 N St. “Eighty pe

Former NBA star Bobby Jackson and the Bobby Jackson Foundation will host the Third Annual Golf Tournament at Catta Verdera Country Club golf course in Lincoln, Calif. on Monday, Sept. 26. Jackson is committed to assisting children in California who have a parent who has had or currently has cancer. The Bobby Jackson Foundation Golf Tournament will advance his cause by raising funds for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Sacramento Valley Affiliate and Camp Kesem. “I have long-admired the work that Susan G. Komen for the Cure has done right here in our community and am proud to support their efforts,” said Jackson. “It is also important to me to continue our partnership with Camp Kesem, an orga

The Sacramento Valley Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure has partnered with the Sacramento River Cats to help bring greater awareness to breast cancer.  Swing for the Cure takes place on Saturday, July 23 with the River Cats taking on the Reno Aces. “Swing for the Cure combines a night of baseball with an opportunity to make an impact in the fight against breast cancer,” said Donna Sanderson, executive director of the Komen Sacramento Affiliate.  “Not only does a portion of each ticket sale go directly to Komen Sacramento but baseball enthusiasts will be able to bid on pink players’ game-worn jerseys and other exciting items that will also directly benefit our organization.” In add

Music lovers and philanthropists alike will have the chance to see legendary rock band KISS perform live at this year’s annual Walk ‘N Rock For Kids fundraiser on May 29 at Raley Field. The combination concert and 5K walk event is hosted by the Hope Productions Foundation, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to “provide resources to children and youth charities to ensure sustainability, viability and awareness,” according to its website. The foundation provides marketing and fundraising training to area nonprofits at no charge in an effort to aid in their ongoing success. This is the third year that the Hope Productions Foundation will host Walk ’N Rock For Kids. Last year, Walk ’

If you're looking for something fun to do this weekend that will also help kitties in need, please stop by the Sacramento Cat Hospital's Third Annual Cat’s Meow Arts & Crafts Fair. Fair hours are 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sunday, May 22 at the Sacramento Cat Hospital, 4115 Manzanita Avenue in Carmichael. All fair proceeds will benefit the Sacramento Cat Hospital Foundation Benevolent Fund, established to provide treatment for injured, sick, and feral cats. Some of these cats require extensive and costly treatment to save their lives. The Benevolent Fund also provides routine physicals, vaccinations, viral screening, food, water, and shelter to the hospital’s foster cats until they find for

  Niello Audi is proud to present the 5th Annual Quattro Cup, the world’s largest Amateur Golf Tournament.  Date: Monday, June 27, 2011 Location: Catta Verdera Country Club, Lincoln, CA Time: 10:00am Registration, 11:00am Shotgun Start Pricing: $160 Single, $300 per Twosome, $575 per Foursome *** Register at www.nielloquattrocup.com *** Your registration includes: • 18 holes of golf at Catta Verdera • Winner advances to National Final at Whistling Straits Golf Course in Kohler Wisconsin • Catered Lunch and Dinner • Complimentary Course Beverages • Tournament Gift & Fabulous Gift Bag • Dinner Reception & Awards This event locally benefits Diogenes Youth Services, a non-profit organizat

The fourth annual A Toast to Music food and wine benefit helped raise money for the Camellia Symphony Orchestra at the Old Sugar Mill Saturday night. The event was sponsored by Carvalho Family Winery. Camellia Symphony Orchestra executive director Roberta McClellan said the money raised at the event will help fund the orchestra’s 2011-2012 season, although they won’t know the total amount raised at the event until Thursday or Friday. “(It will help pay for) brochures, production, purchasing music, rental space and concerts over the summer,” McClellan said. The orchestra provides free family concerts over the summer, and McClellan said the money will also help pay for all of the expenses

Throughout my 'radio' years here in Sacramento, people have asked me about my involvement with FEAT--a non-profit organization of parents, family members, and treatment professionals dedicated to providing best outcome Education, Advocacy and Support for the Northern California Autism Community. FEAT stands for Families for Early Autism Treatment. My answer is simple. Someone in the media needed to help. When I first started to help FEAT the term autism was still relatively unknown to the mass audience. Back then, when one would say, autistic--people thought we were saying, artistic. I knew I needed to help with the enlightenment of autism. I realized then, these parents needed more than a

The Sierra 2 Center for the Arts & Community invites everyone to a lively art competition that benefits the local and the global. On Friday, March 11th from 5:30 to 8:30pm the Sierra 2 Center presents the Best Friend Friday Art Contest, a competition that has solicited pieces of art from all over the Sacramento region. Artists were asked to submit a piece of art that reflected their unique interpretation of any aspect of life in Curtis Park or of the children of Belize. Curtis Park is a charming neighborhood of approximately 2500 households just south of downtown Sacramento, known for its lush canopy of trees, eclectic architecture, and sense of community. More than half of the 360,000 p

Saturday, the Make-a-Wish Foundation Sacramento and Northeastern California chapter hosted the elegant 23rd Annual Winter Wine & Food Fest, featuring tasting from 120 regional wineries, breweries and restaurants. The event also offered live music by classic cover band Over the Edge Band, a silent auction hosted by Dave Thompson from MIX 96 and a VIP live auction. The proceeds from sponsors, auction items and ticket sales will help grant wishes to local children “with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength and joy.” This year, the Make-A-Wish Foundation Sacramento and Northeastern California chapter will grant approximately 230 wishes. The g