Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County benefits from sweet treats
By Monica Garske | SDUN Reporter 
For some, a colorful gingerbread house might symbolize a simple and sweet holiday tradition, but for an organization in University Heights, gingerbread carries much more weight.
On Dec. 1, the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County (EFSDC) held its 18th annual “Gingerbread City Gala” at The Grand Del Mar hotel, an eclectic fundraiser benefiting the nonprofit foundation located at 2055 El Cajon Blvd. in University Heights.
As it does each year, the Gala – the largest recognized gingerbread design competition on the West Coast – brought top chefs, pastry designers and artists together in competition for charity.
These chefs spent the last few weeks building elaborate gingerbread houses for the Gingerbread City contest, and one confectionery creation was crowned the winner.
Melody Morse erected this year’s winning structure. Her intricate “Victorian Christmas” entry boasted a five-foot-tall edible Christmas tree strung with a rice paper garland, gum paste and cranberries.
Morse also won the competition last year with her gingerbread creation, “The Tale of Despereaux: Mouse World,” made of tea leaves, seaweed, edible clay, gum paste, gourd strips and rice noodles.
The 350 attendees at the Gala were able to bid on the competing candy houses, with proceeds going directly to the EFSDC.
“We work all year to put on this event. It’s our biggest by far, raising a large portion of the funds that keep our organization going,” said Gingerbread City coordinator Emma Lawson.
Lawson said they hope to generate $200,000 from the Gala and are still accepting donations and buyers for the remaining structures. These funds help the EFSDC continue its mission to improve the quality of life for those living with the neurological disorder.
According to their statistics, more than 50,000 people in San Diego County are affected by epilepsy. The foundation provides free services to those affected by epilepsy and seizures, including individual and family counseling. They also host educational seminars to help raise awareness and eliminate the stigma associated with epilepsy.
They have plenty of support from gingerbread artists, including Morse.
Besides her passion for pastry decorating, the self-taught artist from Tierrasanta feels a deep connection to the charity event because her cousin has epilepsy. She said this drives her to participate since she knows her structure will help raise money for a cause close to her heart.
Morse said she spent more than 100 hours completing her winning entry for this year. Her family helped by mixing gingerbread, gum paste and Royal Icing. Her strategy for strong gingerbread included “pulling out the gingerbread half-baked, trimming all the edges and re-baking,” she said.
Of course, each participating artist had their own technique.
Maria Gonzales, a sixth year Gingerbread City contestant and four time winner, said she begins her cookie creations with a trip to Home Depot for non-edible reinforcements.
“I use PVC piping to hold my structure together and then I create gingerbread walls. Gingerbread is a difficult material to work with because it softens and warps easily; it can be very temperamental,” Gonzales explained.
Gonzales is a cake design instructor at San Ysidro Adult School and some of her students entered small-scale structures in the contest. They wanted to help the cause in their own way, too.
For more information about Gingerbread City and the EFSDC, visit gingerbreadcitysd.org or epilepsysandiego.org.
