Steven Stern is a strong believer that local businesses should support area schools.
As a University City resident, parent and veteran restaurant owner, he has done just that for the past 13 years.
“It’s just the least I could do,” he said by phone during a recent busy day at Lorna’s Italian Kitchen, as his staff geared up to be a part of the 13th annual Taste of the Triangle event on Tuesday, Nov. 14.
Stern has been at the helm of the restaurant for 19 years, during which time he has put four children through local schools. He has participated in the multi-school fund-raising event ” held by EdUCate!, a nonprofit foundation that raises money to provide resource grants for teachers at public schools in University City ” since its onset.
EdUCate! organizes the Taste of the Triangle each year, inviting 20 area restaurants to come together and serve up specialty dishes to community members.
All proceeds go to the foundation, and are then allocated to a committee that processes teacher requests for resource grants. Last year’s event drew about 600 people, and volunteers expect the turnout at the upcoming fund-raiser to exceed that number.
“EdUCate! as a foundation is very unique in the sense that we raise money for a cluster of University City schools, and most foundations are just one school specific,” said Luann “Crunchy” Beacom, a foundation volunteer.
This year, Taste of the Triangle is the main fund-raising event for the foundation, which is embarking on a campaign to collect donations from large corporations in order to implement new technology in every classroom in University City, Beacom said.
“We have a core group of restaurants that always come, and then every year there are at least three or four new ones that participate,” said Laurel Slater, the event’s co-chair.
A silent auction, featuring 80 to 100 theme baskets packed to the brim with restaurant and spa gift certificates, theater tickets and other items donated by businesses and individuals, will be held throughout the evening, and tickets for a $1,000 shopping spree will be raffled off.
The evening will also feature music by the Standley Middle School Jazz Band and the University City High School Orchestra, and VIP reception with guest speaker Dr. Carl Cohn, San Diego Unified District superintendent of schools, for those who donate more than $250 to the foundation.
The Melting Pot, a fondue-inspired restaurant that recently opened on La Jolla Village Drive, and the Cuban-style Miami Grille, located in the Westfield UTC shopping mall, will make their debuts at the event this year.
“It’s a really great way for new restaurants to get themselves known,” Slater said. “It’s a chance for people who live in the community to taste their stuff and say, ‘Hey, where are you located?'”
But for Stern, the allure of the event is not necessarily getting the word out about his restaurant, he said.
“After 19 years, I don’t worry about that as much ” they either know us or they don’t,” he said, chuckling.
He does, however, know that location matters and his restaurant, which is near the intersection of Genesee Avenue and Governor Drive, is positioned close to many of the local schools, he pointed out.
As a result, he has employed as many as 30 high school students at Lorna’s over the years, and intends to keep it up. He also intends to keep participating in events like this one in years to come.
“The reason why I do it, is because it benefits the schools,” he stated simply. “And I hope many people come out to the Taste of the Triangle to support the schools, as well.”