A Triumphant ‘Taste of Tel-Hi’ Raises $300K for the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center

The 12th Annual Taste of Tel-Hi fundraiser raised more than $300,000 for the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Center, one of the oldest nonprofits in San Francisco, to support programs that enhances the lives of toddlers, youth, families and seniors in the community.

Over 500 guests arrived at the Joe DiMaggio Playground to enjoy the bites from local restaurants E&O Asian Kitchen, Hard Rock Cafe San Francisco, Pier 23 Café and Scoma’s. Guests mingled while enjoying cocktails and wines by Wente Vineyards before walked by a Tesla, provided by iCars, strode into the main tent towards the silent auction stations.

As guests sat down for the exquisite three course dinner prepared by renowned Chef Matthew Dolan from Twenty Five Lusk and Chef Brandon Peacock from Venticello Ristorante & Nob Hill Cafe, a young student performed a spoken word about his struggles in school.  Emcee and national Emmy winner Joe Vasquez and Tel-Hi Executive Director, Nestor Fernandez, kept the crowd entertained with an inspiring presentation about Tel-Hi programs.  Shortly afterwards, the crowd went wild for the live auction items portion of the evening, which included a “Dive with the Sharks” provided by Aquarium of the Bay and a Golden State Warriors package, complete with a pair of signed Stephen Curry shoes.  To everyone’s delight, Joe Vasquez and Liam Mayclem threw in a last-minute auction item in which they offered the audience a tour with each of them through the radio station, complete with a tour of Chinatown and lunch afterwards.

Notable guests who came out to support the Telegraph Hill Neighborhood Association included Chimdi Chekwa, Cornerback for the Oakland Raiders; Bob MacIntosh, Former President of PIER 39; David Chiu, President of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors; Quentin Kopp, formerly part of the California State Senate; Gwenyth Borden, Executive Director of the GGRA (Golden Gate Restaurant Association); Kevin Carroll, Executive Director of the Hotel Council; and Liam Mayclem, Emmy award-winner and host of the Foodie Chap on KCBS radio.

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