16th Annual St. Jude Gourmet Gala Raises $550k+; The Source Takes "Taster's Choice" Award

PENN QUARTER -- Placing a playful emphasis on the 'gras' in Fat Tuesday, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital brought its annual "Gourmet Gala" back to the National Building Museum on Tuesday evening.

Now in its 16th year, the formal foodie affair raised some $558,000 for the pediatric treatment and research facility, with nearly 70 of Washington's top-rated restaurants, bars, and lounges participating.

St. Jude received 100% of the night's proceeds, with all partners generously donating their own time, talent, and ingredients for the fundraiser. At $350/ticket, that equates into a substantial infusion of much-needed financial support to the nonprofit.

Unlike any other hospital, the majority of funding for St. Jude comes from individual contributions. And patients and their families never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food, which affords them the ability to concentrate on what matters most: helping their children get better.

Beyond ticket sales, yesterday's gala received substantial corporate support, including contributions from the Sanju K. Bansal Foundation, Everfresh, Airbus, Trenton Technology, and Liljenquist & Beckstead Jewelers.

The latter even contributed the prize (a pricey Breitling timepiece) for the evening's famed "Taster's Choice" competition, which was awarded to The Source by Wolfgang Puck for its irresistible Lobster Toast dish.

Throughout the event, guests had the opportunity to bid on a series of both live and silent auctions, including an autographed guitar signed by Taylor Swift, a private cocktail party, a fashion show, a styling session, and a $1,000 gift card at Neiman Marcus.

More than 750 of the District's business, financial, and political leaders turned-out for last night's Mardi Gras-themed benefit, which has become St. Jude's largest event in the area.

An added bonus? Calories don't count when it comes to helping kids. Right? Right?