The numbers are in! KFI-AM 640, the #1 radio station in Southern California, has raised more than $400,000 cash and 44,315 lbs of pasta and sauce at its 8th annual Pasta-Thon for OC’s very own Caterina’s Club. In addition, Sir Bruno Serato, founder of the nonprofit, sold 170 copies of his new hardbound book, “The Power of Pasta,” with all proceeds earmarked to feed well over 4,000 underprivileged children nightly, find permanent housing for families in need and introduce at-risk youth to careers in hospitality.
“KFI’s Pasta-Thon is our number one fundraiser of the year and we are proud to announce that, thanks to the generosity of the station’s listeners, we outperformed our previous record,” said Serato. “I cannot tell you how grateful I am to the talent, production staff and listeners of KFI for their continued support. This annual event fuels our efforts and it’s an early Christmas gift for all supporters of Caterina’s Club.”
Caterina’s Club serves pasta each night in 80 locations in Orange and LA counties with more 2.9 million meals served to date. His influence has extended far beyond the local area as other chefs in the U.S. and abroad including those in Chicago, New York, Texas, Mexico and Italy who learned of the program have begun feeding the hungry in their communities. The nonprofit also has helped scores of families escape motel living by securing apartments for them. In addition, Serato in concert with the city of Anaheim, established the Hospitality Academy to help at-risk youth explore careers in restaurants and hotels.
For his humanitarian work, Serato has earned international publicity including profiles in People Magazine, “CBS Evening News” and newspapers and magazines the world over. Among his many honors is being named a CNN Hero, being knighted by the Italian government, receiving a papal blessing from Pope Francis, getting a humanitarian award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and receiving numerous proclamations, Man of the Year awards and other forms of recognition -- all of which he accepts to generate public awareness of the needs of our most vulnerable population – our children. For more information, visit www.caterinasclub.org