Love Lane Kitchen Hosted Benefit Raises $25,000 For School Children In Guatemala

Mattituck's Love Lane Kitchen hosted a fundraising benefit last week for Programa Sueños, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide quality education to school children in San Antonio el Angel, Guatemala.

The event was a wild success, raising a remarkable $25,000. While the mission of the event was to raise significant funds, the evening was full of good spirits as guests imbibed on cocktails from Love Lane Kitchen and noah's manager Kim Gersic, wine from Roanoke Vineyards, and beer from Greenport Brewing Co.

Guests also noshed on delectable treats from other supporting restaurants such as North Fork Table & Inn, Grace & Grit, noah's, A Mano, First and South, Jewel, and of course Love Lane Kitchen. The event has been deemed an enormous success.

"I would like to express my gratitude to my community for the support, it's just amazing what you can accomplished when people with the desired to improved other people lives come together," says Jazmin Carrillo, founder of Programa Sueños.

Jazmin's sister, Laura, helped make the evening a success by assisting the servers and providing extra tasty bites from her own Riverhead restaurant, Lola's. Tom Shaudel led the auction that helped raise a large portion of the event's proceeds, while famed local chef and Programa Sueños consultant Gerry Hayden and Love Lane Kitchen owner Carolyn Iannone helped make the event the huge success it was.

Thrilled with the outcome of the benefit, Jazmin is eager to make the next steps in getting the children of her childhood school the resources they need for quality education and tools for success. Dave Benthal of David Benthal Photography, who's gallery is on display and for sale at Love Lane Kitchen, and founding board member/ Marketing Director Jen Lew of [Jen Lew] Marketing & Design were also in attendance to coordinate the event, and of course support their friend and leader of the organization. 

Jazmin founded Programa Sueños in November 2012 after a trip to her home town in the small village of San Antonio el Angel. While she was there, she visited friends and family she hadn't seen in years, and also visited the small school she attended as a child. It was then that Jazmin saw that time had taken a negative toll on the building. The school had fallen into despair, classrooms were overcrowded, facilities were rundown and neglected. Despite all of the dismal conditions, the students and teachers had not changed. The building was alive with hope and potential, leaving Jazmin inspired to help the school that held the fond memories of her childhood. What started as a small scholarship program soon turned into a full 501 (c)3 non-profit organization.