Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation in San Diego

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As the warm sun begins to shine and the long days radiate seamlessly into the late evenings, it's easy to feel how truly lucky we are to live in San Diego. And with the sunlight of springtime comes the loving spirit of charity.

In a city as thriving with culture as San Diego, we make sure to do charity events right - incorporating the best of local dining, hospitality, fashion, and nightlife, enabling benevolent locals to support their cause without missing a beat.

April marks the launch of spring charity event season, starting off with one of the most delicious events in San Diego - Taste of the Nation by Share Our Strength. Now in its 21st year, Taste of the Nation is the premier culinary benefit in the nation that brings together the passion and talent of the most creative chefs of modern cuisine in the fight to end childhood hunger in America.

Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation is back in San Diego on Sunday, April 13, 2008, gracing the poolside lounge of JBar atop the Hotel Solamar in Gaslamp. Tickets are $95 and can be purchased over the phone by calling 1.877.26.Taste or online by visiting tasteofthenation.org.

This dynamic event may only span three afternoon hours, but every minute is packed in tight with interactive culinary entertainment ranging from live music to a silent auction, a Reality TV inspired “iron chef” competition featuring local participating children as Sous Chefs.

Taste of the Nation welcomes nationally renowned chefs from our very own city's top restaurants including Currant, Quarter Kitchen at the Ivy Hotel, Mistral at Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Jack's La Jolla, Oceanaire Seafood Room, Georges California Modern, Anthology, Stingaree, 1500 Ocean at Hotel del Coronado, Addison at The Grand Del Mar, Jade, Grant Grill at US Grant Hotel, Blue Coral, Rancho Bernardo Inn, Blanca, and more. From Solana Beach to La Jolla to Coronado and the Gaslamp Quarter, San Diego is ripe with top chefs, and Taste of the Nation invites residents to feast on local talent once a year, all for a great cause.

Share Our Strength - No Child Hungry

Every year, more than 12 million children in America will suffer from a limited or lack of access to the nutritious foods they need to develop to their full potential. While a silent and even invisible struggle, childhood hunger is a devastating problem in America among our youth nationwide - Caucasian, African American, Asian, Hispanic, thin and chubby, short and tall. And in the world's most wealthy nation, this should not be the case; no child should grow up hungry.

Taking action against this nationwide epidemic in 2004, Share Our Strength developed a strategy to end childhood hunger in America. Their long-term, sensible outreach is focused on three goals: To increase access to public and private programs that provide food to children and their families; strengthen community infrastructure and systems that connect children to healthy food; improve knowledge of available programs and how to get the most from limited resources. Since the early roots in 1998, Share Our Strength has raised more than $70 million, with the majority of donations derived from Taste of the Nation events across America.

Share Our Strength - How They Help

Raised funds are invested in the nation's most effective anti-hunger organizations, ensuring every dollar makes the greatest possible impact in the war against childhood hunger in America. Share Our Strength guarantees that 100% of ticket sales from Taste of the Nation will be granted to anti-hunger organizations across the nation.

Breaking it down: 80% of ticket sales is granted to organizations in the state where the event is held, 17% is distributed to international grant recipients, and 3% funds the Operation Frontline program run by Share Our Strength.

San Diego Taste of the Nation

Share their strength on Sunday, April 13 from 3-6pm atop Hotel Solamar at the chic poolside lounge JBar. Feel the warmth of the spring sun and taste the delights of San Diego's top chefs as you celebrate the spirit of charity and do your part to end childhood hunger in America - without missing a beat in local dining and entertainment.

The 2008 Taste of the Nation event will benefit Los Ninos, San Diego Hunger Coalition, RESULTS Educational Fund, California Food Policy Advocates and California Association of Food Banks. And the generous support from presenting sponsor American Express, national sponsors SYSCO Corporation and Food Network, product-level sponsors, S.Pellegrino Sparkling Natural Mineral Water, WineStyles and our local sponsor Wahoo's ensures that 100% of ticket proceeds go to Share Our Strength's efforts.

Tickets for Taste of the Nation San Diego are $95 and can be purchased over the phone by calling 1.877.26.Taste or online by visiting tasteofthenation.org.