Luther Burbank Center For The Arts' Annual Fundraiser Raises $400,000 For Arts And Education Programs

With the help of famed North Bay pastry artists, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced today that it raised $400,000 at its 15th annual fundraiser, The Art of Dessert, held on Saturday, April 7, 2018. Proceeds from the fundraiser support the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, which allows LBC to engage Sonoma County residents in the power of the arts, from world class performances to nationally-recognized education programs. Since its inception, the annual fundraiser has raised $3.6 million and helped provide the enrichment of arts to over 400,000 children.

More than 250 guests attended this year's fundraiser, which featured live entertainment, fine dining, and one-of-a-kind confections created by some of the North Bay's most acclaimed pastry artists. The elegant evening began with a cocktail and hors d'ouevres reception featuring silent and wine auctions, after which guests were treated to a lavish dinner provided by John Ash and Company. Rodney Strong Vineyards, the Exclusive Wine Sponsor for LBC, also served as wine sponsor for The Art of Dessert. A live auction featured incredible local experiences, great travel packages, and much more. Entertainment was provided by Montgomery High School Jazz Band and the LBC Youth Mariachi Ensemble, both of which are beneficiaries of the LBC arts education programs that receive funding from events such as The Art of Dessert. The evening culminated with guests indulging in the one-of-a-kind cakes adorning each table.

New at this year's event were tables hosted by the dessert competition judges, comprised of celebrity chefs and food writers, including "Food Network" star and local restauranteur Duskie Estes, Top Chef Master Douglas Keane, master chef and hospitality entrepreneur Charlie Palmer, "Chez Panisse Desserts" author and James Beard Award-winning pastry chef Lindsey Shere, popular Sonoma County executive chef and James Beard Award finalist Mark Stark of Stark Reality Restaurants, and acclaimed travel and food writer Matt Villano.

Winners were Isabelle Mazeaud of IMA Cake Couture for Best Overall, Carolyn Besse of Your Sweet Expectations for Best in Taste, Mapi Castel of Mapi's Cakes for Best Presentation, Casey Stone of John Ash & Company for Best Creativity & Originality, and Tina Zettel of Willow Tree Bakery for Most Sentimental.

Other participants included pastry chefs from: The Cake Lady of Cloverdale, Costeaux French Bakery, Crumb Hither, Downtown Bakery & Creamery, Dry Creek Kitchen, Firefly Catering, Hazel Restaurant, Jackson Family Wines, Once Bitten, Les Pascales, Michelle's Corner Cakes, Moustache/Noble Folk, Oliver's Market, Pascaline, SHED, Sift Dessert Bar, Sonoma Cake Creations, Supreme Sweets, and The Trading Post Cloverdale.

Additional sponsor support for the event came from Santa Rosa Cinemas.

A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts is home to world-class performances, nationally recognized education programs, contemporary visual art, and many popular events. The Arts Center is located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country and ranked among California's top performing arts presenters. Together with its resident companies, the Center presents more than 230 performances in music, dance, theater, renowned speakers, and comedy; provides education programs serving 40,000 children and adults; and hosts more than 1,000 community events a year. Owned and operated by the Luther Burbank Memorial Foundation, the Center relies on charitable community donations to achieve its mission - to enrich, educate, and entertain.

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