KFI-AM 640, the #1 talk radio station in Southern California, has raised $435,499 and 109,000 lbs. of pasta and sauce at its 9th annual Pasta-Thon benefiting Caterina’s Club, which feeds some 5,000 underprivileged children nightly. The nonprofit also finds permanent housing for families in need and introduces at-risk youth to careers in hospitality.
“We are so grateful to KFI and especially Bill Handel whose tireless efforts on behalf of Caterina’s Club helps us achieve our goal of serving as many in need as possible,” said Serato, who added that since 2010, KFI has raised more than $2.8 million and 510,291 lbs. of pasta and pasta sauce.
Caterina’s Club serves the 5,000 pasta dinners each night in 89 locations in Orange and LA counties with more than 3 million meals served. Serato's influence has extended far beyond the local area to include Chicago, New York, Texas, Mexico and Italy. His nonprofit also helps families escape living in drug, and crime-infested motels and into safer, cleaner and more permanent housing. His Hospitality Program seeks to divert at-risk high school students by introducing them to opportunities in the food, hospitality and service industries.
For his humanitarian work, Serato has earned international publicity including profiles in People Magazine, CBS, NBC, CNN as well as newspapers and magazines the world over. Among his many honors: CNN Hero, knighted by the Italian government, knighted by the House of Savoy, Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Papal blessing by Pope Francis, humanitarian award on the steps of the U.S. Capitol, and 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 or to make a donation to Caterina’s Club, visit www.caterinasclub.org.