Unique 'Faces of FoodWhat?!' Fundraiser Set Friday In Downtown Santa Cruz

SANTA CRUZ, CA – The youth of FoodWhat?!, a teen program in Santa Cruz County that uses food and sustainable agriculture for empowerment, will be cooking and serving a special menu Nov. 4 as part of an evening fundraiser.

The event, called Faces of FoodWhat?!, is free and will be held from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Santa Cruz Food Lounge, 1001 Center St, Ste 1 in Santa Cruz.

In addition to the farm food, there will be a raffle, music by Marty O'Reilly and a release party for the new collaborative wine, Ser Winery Ventana Surfboard Syrah -- made with organic, locally grown grapes from Coastview Vineyards.

The raffle will include prizes from Patagonia Gear, Santa Cruz Warriors tickets, dinners at Bantam and Oswald, an instructed climbing trip, MAH family membership, Boardwalk passes and gift certificates to local coffee shops.

A photography show is also included, with sales to benefit the food program, with the "philanthropic photography" by Santa Cruz resident David Dennis, a co-founder of Ventana Surfboards & Supplies and director of product management at Microsoft.

“Photographing this project allowed me to experience firsthand how sustainable agriculture and a focus on healthy eating can empower low-income and struggling youth to become stronger and more resilient,” Dennis said. “The work of FoodWhat?! is inspiring.”

"FoodWhat?!" uses food grown with sustainable agriculture and health in mind as a vehicle for growing strong healthy, and resilient teens. Operators partner with low-income and struggling youth to grow, cook, eat, and distribute healthy, sustainably raised food and address food justice issues in our Santa Cruz
County communities.

To learn more about the event, click here. To read more about FoodWhat?!, follow this link.

• And for your weekend: This Weekend In NorCal: 'Star Trek' Meet & Greet; SnowBomb Fest & Sale; Beachy Keen Sea Glass; Holiday Boutiques

--Image courtesy of FoodWhat?!