The 9th annual L.A. Loves Alex’s Lemonade Stand was an overwhelming success raising nearly $1.5 million

for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, breaking last year’s record for the event. Located at Royce Quad on the campus of UCLA, the day was SoCal sunny perfect for chefs and fans to come together to support childhood cancer research.

The foodie mecca event brings the best chefs in the US to show off their talents with countless booths for guests to sample extraordinary bites outside on the sunny lawn. For hours, attendees devour exceptional culinary creations. Some of our favorite bites included live uni from Santa Barbara, a savory pimento cheesy churro from LA’s Craft Restaurant, grilled local squid and melon from Redbird, beef tartar on a charcoal cracker from Kali Restaurant, grilled New York Sirloin steak with sauteed corn, tomatoes, feta, and tzatziki from CUT by Wolfgang Puck, and Sfincione with Stracciatella from Felix in Venice. Dessert bars and craft cocktail and wine areas abound with endless options to indulge. Guests don’t mind waiting in the Chef Adam Perry Lang’s BBQ line that stretches down the venue since the meat is that good. I saw one couple gnawing on a large tomahawk bone.

More than 2,500 people, including more than 100 chefs, mixologists and vintners came out to join the battle against childhood cancer. We saw Jimmy Kimmel and his wife Molly McNearney several times with their kids as well as beloved chef Nancy Silverton (watch her on Chef’s Table on Netflix) serving guests with a smile. Many of our favorite LA culinary gods were in attendance supporting the cause like Suzanne Goin, Jon Shook & Vinny DiTolo, Timothy Hollingsworth, Jeremy Fox, and Jason Winters. 

Alex’s parents, Jay and Liz Scott who are the co-executive directors of Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, gave a riveting speech highlighting the importance of how we all can make a difference. Childhood cancer survivor Cooper Gray spoke about his experience with cancer and how supporters can join him and ALSF in the fight against childhood cancer. Volvo gave a special donation, presenting the check to Jay and Liz.

The live auction raised more than $650,000, including a men’s and women’s chef dinner with all-star chefs Suzanne Goin, Michael Cimarusti, Gabrielle Hamilton, Josiah Citrin, among others, and an impromptu dinner coordinated with Jimmy Kimmel and chefs such as Adam Perry Lang, Jon Shook and Vinny DoTolo held at his barn, which raised $300,000!

Even a Kids Campaign raised a record $60,000 from holding lemonade stands, bake sales, and other creative activities.

If you attended, you may have seen Shiri Appleby from Roswell, Jason Bateman and Amanda Anka from Ozark, Kate Flannery from The Office, Christopher Gorham from Ugly Betty, Nolan Gould from Modern Family, Jim O’Heir from Parks and Rec, Timothy Olyphant from Justified, and The Santa Clarita Diet, Michelle Trachtenberg from Harriet the Spy, Gossip Girl, and Mercy, Kirsten Vangsness from Criminal Minds, Chris Williams from Silicon Valley, and many other notable entertainment folks.

The inspiring event made me think of my own incredibly generous stepfather G. Peter Beardsley who passed away last year at this time. He spent his life as a research doctor, pediatric oncologist, and was one of the leading figures in the treatment of childhood cancer.

Please come to support Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation next year.