Restaurant Gala Raises $212,825 for Student Scholarships; 50/50 Raffle Winners Announced

MAYS LANDING — The 34th annual Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala, with the help of guests, sponsors and donors, raised $212,825, and showcased 40 of the region’s top restaurants at the March 23 event. The proceeds from this event will benefit students at the Academy of Culinary Arts, an emergency fund for students and Atlantic Cape Foundation operations.
Harrah’s Waterfront Conference Center in Atlantic City hosted the annual fundraiser, which featured the theme, “Golden Gala,” celebrating the college’s 50th anniversary. The event showcased the talents of the culinary students at the Academy of Culinary Arts, who prepared thousands of sumptuous hot and cold hors d’oeuvres served during the cocktail reception.
The Atlantic Cape Foundation honored Academy of Culinary Arts graduate Chef George Kyrtatas ’99, owner of SweetWater Bar & Grill in Cinnaminson; and Steven Brady, vice chairman of OceanFirst Bank.
The evening ended with an elegant dessert reception co-organized by Chef Robert Bennett and Chef Michael D’Angelo.
Event sponsors were Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, OceanFirst Bank, Petro Cohen Petro Matarazzo, Ameriprise Financial, Golden Nugget Atlantic City, Resorts Casino & Hotel, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Avalon Flooring, Longport Media, SNJ Today, The Press of Atlantic City, Atlantic County Utilities Authority, U.S. Army, AtlantiCare, Rutgers University, South Jersey Industries, SOSH Architects, UBS Wealth Management, Tropicana Atlantic City, U.A. Local Union 322 Plumbers and Steamfitters, Merrill Lynch/Mussa Management, Marathon Engineering, Bernie Robbins Jewelers, Atlantic City Electric, Kaleidoscope Printing and Promotional Products Inc., American Beach, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Barritt’s Ginger Beer, Gallo Wine Sales of NJ Inc., Fedway, Allied Beverage and The Good Vibes Booth.
Lucky ticket-holders shared $19,300 in prizes at this year’s Atlantic Cape Community College Restaurant Gala 50/50 Raffle.
The winners include: First Prize, $5,790, John Grasso of Northfield; Second Prize, $2,895, Boys and Girls Club of Atlantic City; and Third Prize, $965, Helen Walsh of Margate.
Winning amounts were based on the number of tickets sold. This year, 193 raffle tickets were sold at $100 each, raising $19,300 for grants, emergency aid and leadership development for Atlantic Cape students.
For more information about the Restaurant Gala, visit www.atlantic.edu/gala.