AbilityFirst Announces 51st Annual Food & Wine Festival

AbilityFirst has announced its 51st Annual Food & Wine Festival, its signature tasting event that features local food and beverage providers while raising funds for programs supporting children and adults with disabilities.

This year’s festival will honor those affected by the Eaton and Palisades fires. It is scheduled for Sunday, June 8 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. in South Pasadena.

The event, co-chaired by Anita Lawler and Mary Spellman with Nancy Longo as emcee, expects to welcome over 400 guests. For 99 years, AbilityFirst has been at the forefront of providing programs empowering individuals with autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and other disabilities.

AbilityFirst’s programs foster social connections and independence while providing essential employment preparation and coaching. Their Camp Paivika, operating since 1947, was one of the first fully accessible summer camps in the nation. This event supports life-changing programs, especially important as they face potential Medicaid cuts.

Culinary participants include Agnes Restaurant & Cheesery, Alexander’s Steakhouse, Beard Papa’s, El Cholo, Gale’s Restaurant, and over a dozen others. Beverage tastings will feature spirits from Asombroso Tequila, Batch 22, and others, with wines from Caymus Vineyards, Navarro Vineyards, and Riboli Family Wines.

Sponsors include Chubb, Bank of America, The Fletcher Jones Foundation, Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, and Crimson IT, among others.

The Steering Committee includes the co-chairs, along with Devon Anderson, Candis Bowles, Luther Beegle, Steve Brockmeyer, John Nilson, Julietta Perez, Elisabeth Seitz, Harlan Thompson, and Melissa Wu.

Tickets are available at abilityfirst.org/festival.