18th Taste of Los Al provides fun, food and funds, nets approximately $250K
With approximately 40 restaurants and other vendors providing food, and almost 30 Los Alamitos High School booster groups participating, the 18th Annual Taste for Los Al turned in another successful performance, once again netting approximately $250,000 in gross revenues.
The event was held on Saturday, Oct. 13, at the Shops at Rossmoor, which graciously donated their site for the 11th straight year. Just over 3,300 tickets were sold to the event, but the rain earlier in the day (not to mention the thunder and lightning the previous night) may have intimidated some ticket buyers as just under 2,900 persons actually attended. Those who did enjoyed almost perfect weather throughout the evening.
Booster clubs earned $96,000 from ticket sales with softball leading the way with 427 tickets sold, followed by Vocal Music (357), Baseball (288) and Girls Soccer (269). Groups receive $30 per ticket sale, less for late sales.
Groups also raised nearly $90,000 from the almost 80 silent auction tables and various raffles, with Lacrosse leading the way in this area with nearly $18,000 reported revenues from their 14 auction tables. Baseball, Softball, Ice Hockey and Boys Basketball also each earned about $10,000 mark. These totals, combined with the beverage sales, now mean The Taste has raised over $3 million in revenues to support activities at Los Alamitos High School (and middle school music groups) since it began with the food of ten local restaurants in 2001.
Three of those restaurants from that first year have never missed an event – Hof’s Hut, Sango Sushi, and the Yucatan Grill.
Participating restaurants this year included:
Los Alamitos: A LA Waffle, Hof’s Hut, Katella Deli, Sango Sushi, Madera’s Steakhouse, Brew Kitchen Ale House, Mama’s, Shenandoah at the Arbor, Griffins Grill, P.O.P. (Pacific Organic Pops), Potholder Café, Polly’s Pies
North Seal Beach/Rossmoor: Chick Fil-A, Santa Fe Importers, Pick-Up Stix, Islands, Sprouts, Peet’s Coffee
Seal Beach: Yucatan Grill, Mahe, 320 Main, Walt’s Wharf, Bogart’s Coffee
Long Beach: Buffalo Wild Wings, The Crooked Duck, The Eldo (El Dorado), Grocery Outlet, Lucille’s BBQ, Mimi’s Café, Parker’s Lighthouse, Sideyard Café, Simmzy’s, Twiced Baked Baking Co.
Garden Grove: On the Rocks.
“Our Los Al”, a non-profit whose mission is to help support and promote awareness of activities at Los Alamitos High School and the greater Los Alamitos Community, hosts the Taste for Los Al. OUR Los Al keeps the beverage sales and whatever of the ticket revenues is left after event expenses are paid. It uses its money to help fund big-ticket items, and activities involving multiple groups. Over the years it donated $235,000 for the all-weather track at the high school, in addition to money for the gym scoreboard, and multiple field improvements, and training room improvements. It also uses some of the money to help fund broadcasts of Los Al HS sports and other school activities throughout the year.
Article submitted by ‘Our Los Al.’
Pictured in photo illustration, are representatives from most of the participating Los Al HS booster clubs showed up last Tuesday in front of the Los Alamitos High School Performing Arts center to receive their checks for ticket sales at this year’s Taste for Los Al. Booster groups raised over $180,000 at this year’s event to support their activities. Also in the photo are representatives from OUR Los Al and The Shops at Rossmoor.
