Surreal
Sensations Dream Foundation 15th Dreamland Gala
Dream
Foundation hosted its 15th Annual Dreamland Gala on Nov. 5 at
the Bacara Resort & Spa in Santa Barbara in an effort to
raise awareness about the foundation's mission to fulfill the
end-of-life Dreams of terminally-ill adults, offering inspiration,
comfort, and closure. The vital funds raised allow the organization
to maintain its history of never turning down a qualified Dream
applicant, a record it has maintained since its inception.
The
evening honored special guests, Dreamers Jonathan White and
Daniella Dominic Enriquez, who shared their Dream stories. Jonathan,
36, a music lover from Brooklyn, N.Y., has worked with wood
since the age of 13, now an experienced cabinet maker. He has
always dreamed of making his own lasting contribution to music
by building a guitar. His request was for a guitar side-bending
machine, which would allow him to craft acoustic guitars and
would bring his Dream to life. On behalf of Dream Foundation,
Jonathan was presented his own bending machine by world-renowned
guitar craftsman and Roger Sadowsky, at Sadowsky's workshop
in Long Island City, N.Y. Also donated to Jonathan was a guitar-making
kit by Stewart-MacDonald. Sadowsky who spent the afternoon mentoring
Jonathan on the art of guitar-making to the delight of both
of them. Jonathan plans to craft a guitar as a lasting memory
for his 14-year-old son. Jonathan, his wife Olga, and their
baby daughter, Ophelia were in attendance.
Signature Patron Gala Menu Card
Daniella
Domiic Eriquez, 21, who until her terminal diagnosis was pursing
her education at the University of Tennessee, wrote to Dream
Foundation about visiting her family in California."This
is something that would allow me to spend precious time with
my family," Daniella said. "It would offer me and
my family a great deal of peace and comfort." In June,
Dream Foundation flew Daniella to California to embrace her
family one last time. Daniella attended the gala and shared
her touching story.
Bacara Resort & Spa Executive Chef Vincent Lesage and his
staff presented an outstanding dinner menu of roasted baby beet
salad, braised beef short ribs with quinoa couscous and that
was gourmet healthy, presented exquisitely, and followed by
a beautiful lemon tart sweet ending. The dinner was paired with
Villa San Juliette, Rusack and Babcock Wines. Patron Tequila
provided sexy serving bars where a menu of cocktails designed
for the event were served during the reception and silent auction
before dinner where exotic auction items included items like
like Hollywood Bowl box seats and an exotic trip to South Africa's
Zulu Nyala Game Reserve.
Chef Lesage Braised Beef Short Ribs
The
enchanting and surreal evening included a one of a kind treat
for the senses performance by Quixotic; an experimental product
that happens when technology, live music, contemporary dance,
and Cirque du Soleil arts come together. Classically trained
floor and aerial performers, including former Cirque du Soleil
puppeteer Eros Biox interacting with visual effects, award-winning
live musicians, and responsive environment action to create
a multi-sensory experience. Its fusion of visuals and manipulation
of light and rhythm transcended language and made this collective
of artists an audience a pleasure.
Guests
also enjoyed an interactive live auction hosted by long-time
Dream Foundation supporters and Santa Barbara locals Andrew
and Ivana Firestone.
Featured
live auction packages included extravagant vacations to Portugal,
Spain and Morocco, Buenos Aires and Chile and a visit to Four
Seasons Costa Rica with tickets from Alaska Airlines to name
a few. Also auctioned was "Breakfast with Betty" -
breakfast at Bergdorf Goodman in Manhattan with fashion legend
Betty Halbreich, followed by a personalized styling session
and more.
Highlighting
the celebration was Grammy Award-winning artist, Estelle. This
London born musician rocked the ballroom at Bacara, and she
is best known for her electric mix of various musical genres.
Estelle has collaborated with top names in the business including
David Guetta, John Legend, Robin Thicke, and Kanye West on "American
Boy" for which she won a Grammy for Best Rap/Song Collaboration
as well as being nominated for Song of the Year. Following the
gala, Generation Dream hosted an exclusive after-party with
world-renowned DJ, Chris Cox where guests danced the night away
while sipping on Patron Tequila and Beau Joie Champagne.
Villa San Juliette Wines
"We
are eternally grateful to our local community and those across
the nation that continue to bring thousands of Dreams to life
each year with their support, time, and resources," said
Kisa Heyer, Dream Foundation's CEO. "Dreamland is an opportunity
to share our successes, our Dream stories, and raise vital funds
in an effort to fulfill more Dreams for those mothers, brothers,
veterans, and families," Heyer said.
Dream
Foundation acknowledged the support of Dreamland's Platinum
Sponsors: Colleen Barnett-Taylor & Michael Taylor, Barnett
Clutches and Cables; Jan & Bill Sanger, Envision Healthcare;
Genentech; Kindred Gentiva Hospice Foundation; and Indagare
Travel as well as its dedicated event committee: Daryl Stegall,
event chair, Baret Boisson, Debra Borden, Kyle Brace, Julie
Chaminand, Kendall Conrad, Debbie Darke, Lisa Hagerman, Lynette
Hall, Caroline Harrah, Jennifer Hecht, Robin Himovitz, Kimi
Matar, Stephanie Nicks, Kathy Nicolson, Beth Perry, Kim Robertson,
Christina Rottman, and Steve Shulem. More information can be
found at http://www.dreamfoundation.org.
By Bonnie Carroll
About Bonnie Carroll
Bonnie Carroll has been a food/travel/lifestyle writer since
1983. She is the founder & publisher of Bonnie Carroll's
Life Bites News - www.lifebitesnews.com,
does travel and food reporting on KZSB1290 radio, and contributes
to a variety of national and international travel/lifestyle
publications. Her first children's book C.C. Charles was published
in 2002 and she is currently working on a second book. Contact
her at Contact her at writebc@aol.com.