LA Chefs For Human Rights “Dear Neighbor” Virtual Celebration

Over the past few years, Cassia’s Kim Luu-Ng and Chef Bryant Ng hosted LA Chefs for Human Rights (LACHR) dinners at the restaurant with the city’s most celebrated chefs and bakers to raise money for local human rights organizations. Since its 2016 inception, they’ve raised over $500,000 for Program for Torture Victims and The People Concern, to support medical care and legal services for refugees seeking asylum, and to feed and house homeless individuals and families in temporary and permanent housing, respectively.
This year, we had to get a little creative, so instead of holding a big gala at the restaurant, we’re partnering with our friends at The People Concern for “Dear Neighbor” – a live, virtual event on Saturday June 27 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Tickets and sponsorship packages are on sale until Saturday, June 20.
Our goal, especially with so many newly-unemployed and displaced Angelenos during the COVID-19 pandemic, is to help The People Concern (which has temporary housing and facilities throughout Santa Monica) house and feed more homeless individuals and families during this “crisis within the Crisis.” 92% of people placed in permanent housing by them never experience homelessness again.
Kim and Bryant have enlisted their chef friends, like Martin Yan, Roy Choi, Niki Nakayama & Carole Iida-Nakayama, Ori Menashe & Genevieve Gergis, Nyesha Arrington, Josh & Zoe, along with a variety of talented actors, such as 2018 LACHR Hero Award Recipient Martin Sheen, Marianne-Jean Baptiste, Harry Shum Jr. and more to deliver special messages and entertainment. We’ll also have The People Concern’s CEO John Maceri and program participants share their moving stories.
Bryant and team are cooking an incredible, multi-course, family-style meal, while Cassia Sommelier Marianna Caldwell is crafting wine and cocktail pairings, with the support of our generous sponsors. The People Concern’s team of healthy volunteers will be making deliveries straight to everyone’s door.