Family Service Agency is pleased to announce that Meredith Garofalo and Marni Cooney have been named Event Committee Chair for Cooking Up Dreams, a benefit for at-risk youth served by Family Service Agency. The event is scheduled for 6:30-10pm on Friday, March 18, 2016 at the Fess Parker Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara.
Meredith Garofalo is a Meteorologist and Reporter for Newschannel 3 where her forecasts can be seen every morning on KEYT and Fox 11. She also produces a weekly segment every Friday, Meredith’s Weekend Picks, which highlights community events and works on other feature reports for the newscasts.
Garofalo is very passionate about giving back to the community, and donates her time and talents to many causes including Big Brothers Big Sisters (where she is also an Advisory Council Member), Boys & Girls Clubs, Make-A-Wish, Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, and the American Red Cross. Garofalo also enjoys giving classroom talks to students including career days at local high schools. She is an accomplished singer and actress, performing different venues of music at local charity and community events. In September 2013, she starred as “Rizzo” in “Grease” and was a finalist in the 2014 Star Voice Competition.
Marni Cooney is a member of the Family Service Agency board of directors and serves on a variety of committees. Prior to re-engaging as a board member in 2015, Cooney served on the board for 10 years between 2003 and 2013. During her tenure, she was President of the Board from 2007 to 2010 and Co-President from 2011 to 2013. Prior to that, she chaired both the program and development committees. Marni and husband Michael Cooney were honored for their many contributions to FSA during the agency’s Honoring Families Celebration in May 2014.
In addition to her work for FSA, Marni serves as the Chair of the Major Gifts Committee for the renovation of Peabody Stadium at Santa Barbara High School and continues to volunteer with Carpinteria Elementary Schools. Previously, she served on the County Human Services Commission and has professional affiliations with Cold Spring School, Montecito Union, Outhwaite Foundation and Santa Barbara Tennis Patrons.
Cooking Up Dreams, sponsored by Neovia Integrated Insurance Services, is a unique fundraising event that features a culinary competition with delicious samplings by leading local chefs and restaurants. The competition will be fierce as 300 guests and celebrity judges vote on the top dish that will win the People’s Choice or the Judge’s Awards. Guests will also enjoy complimentary wine (provided by Grassini Family Vineyards and Touring and Tasting) and beer, no-host full bar, music by DJ Scott Topper, silent and live auction, red carpet entrance, premium photo booth experience by RUMOR Photo Media, and more.
Participating chefs and restaurants include:
• Angel Oak at Bacara Resort & Spa
• Barbareno
• Boathouse at Hendry’s Beach
• Chef Michael Hutchings
• Four Seasons Biltmore
• Mac’s Fish & Chip Shop
• Nimita’s Cuisine
• Pascucci
• Patxi’s Pizza
• Rincon Catering
• Roblar Winery
• Santa Barbara FisHouse
• SB Wine Dine Build
• Willows Restaurant at Chumash Casino
• World Cuisine Express
Proceeds from Cooking Up Dreams support Family Service Agency’s youth enrichment programs including Big Brothers Big Sisters, school-based counseling, and youth behavioral health – all programs targeting low-income at-risk youth who, with the help of counseling and mentors, are able to improve their personal growth and academic experience. There are many ways to participate!
To purchase tickets or become a sponsor with reserved seating, please visit www.cookingupdreams.org
