From now until December 31^st, 2011 Cookie Gallery will be proudly supporting:

Caterina’s Club and Chef Bruno Serato.

It all started in 2005 when Chef Bruno Serato and his mother, Caterina, visited the Boys and Girls Club of Anaheim, where his mother noticed that there was a 6-year old boy eating potato chips for dinner, because his family couldn't afford a proper meal. Caterina insisted that Chef Bruno make some pasta for the child. They soon realized that there were many more of these hungry 'motel children', so Chef Bruno begun making pasta for 72 children, 5 nights a week. Caterina’s Club was born.

 Caterina’s Club and Chef Bruno Serato have expanded their efforts to now feed nearly 300 local kids, 7 nights a week and has served over a quarter of a million meals to date. For most of these children this is the only decent meal they get in a day, their parents not being able to feed them anything for breakfast or lunch.

 Thanks to the dedication, devotion and generosity of Chef Bruno Serato, Caterina’s Club has been able to expand their efforts to improve the well-being of these local children and to raise funds to donate a 12 passenger van to transport the children from where they live in local motels to the Boys & Girls Clubs. This transportation was also extended to their families so that they may go to and from a medical clinic in Santa Ana. Caterina's Club has also contributed to a free dental clinic as well as piano lessons for the Boys & Girls Clubs members. The children have been provided with one-on-one tutoring on a daily basis, allowing them to better achieve in school. In addition to the tutoring, upgraded computer software was also provided to aid the children in furthering their education. Caterina's Club along with the help of Anaheim Ballet also began a program introducing ballet to the kids.

But Chef Bruno Serato’s heart is way too big for him to limit himself to helping the children in his neighborhood. His goal is to find some other restaurants and non-profit charities and clubs around the nation to join Caterina’s Club’s efforts and help feeding children in need. As part of this effort Caterina’s Club raised and donated $30,000 to the GHH Nana’s Kidz Program allowing Chef Bruno to serve a 100 more motel children and thus providing an additional 87,600 meals yearly through this collaboration.

His philanthropic efforts couldn’t go unnoticed and Chef Bruno has been acclaimed and recognized locally and nationally. This year CNN selected Chef Bruno Serato to be one of its TOP 10 finalists to become CNN Hero of the Year. To be honored with such a title and receive a donation of $250,000 will allow Chef Bruno to get the exposure to expand his efforts nationwide and gives him the means to fulfill the dream he shares with his mother, Caterina. As Chef Bruno often says: “We should not have children in America with empty stomachs”.

Please visit CNN.com website to learn more about Chef Bruno Serato and vote for him (you can vote up to 10 times a day until December 7^th,2011) and watch “CNN HEROES: An All-Star tribute” LIVE on Sunday, December 11^th, 2011 8ET/5PT for the results.

http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/archive11/bruno.serato.html 

For more information on Caterina’s Club, to volunteer your restaurant to expand their efforts in your neighborhood or to donate directly to this great cause, please visit:

http://www.thecaterinasclub.org

For all orders placed by December 31^st, 2011 we would be happy to donate to this great cause: 

• $1.00 for each order under $30 

• $2.00 for each order between $30 and $50

• $3.00 for each order between $50 and $75

• $4.00 for each order between $75 and $100 

• $5.00 for each order over $100

All order amounts are based on actual products costs, after applying any sale offer, discount or additional promotions and coupons, and prior to shipping and handling charges.

Thank you for your support. Together we can make a difference!