Alberto Cortés and LaShunna Davidson with a check from Sycuan Casino Resort for Mama’s Day fundraiser. Photo courtesy of Mama’s Kitchen

San Diego, CA–Mama’s Kitchen held its annual Mama’s Day fundraiser online on May 7 to raise critical funds needed to continue its mission to deliver medically tailored nutritional meals to individuals and families suffering from illnesses.

This year, the nonprofit raised more than $47,000 with the generous support of a longtime sponsor, Sycuan Casino Resort, which will provide 9,400 meals to San Diegans in need.

In addition to sponsoring the event, Sycuan Casino Resort also initiated a $10,000 Fund-A-Meal match in support of Mama’s Day. At an approximate cost of $5 per meal, the match funds 4,000 meals. In total, Sycuan Casino Resort supported Mama’s Day with $25,000 to directly fund Mama’s Kitchen’s crucial nutrition services.

“We are proud to partner with Mama’s Kitchen once again to help raise much-needed funds for their vital meal services,” said Cody Martinez, chairman, Sycuan Band of the Kumeyaay Nation. “Sycuan has supported Mama’s Kitchen for more than two decades and we continue to be inspired by the incredible work that this organization does throughout the entire San Diego region. Thank you for making such a positive difference in the lives of our community’s most vulnerable and we are honored to continue to support this very important mission.”

With Sam “The Cooking Guy” Zien at the helm as culinary host, attendees enjoyed an at-home celebration with live entertainment, special presentations, an opportunity drawing, and so much more. All who attended also enjoyed a special presentation from Chad Michaels, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season One winner and the producer of San Diego’s “Dreamgirls Revue.” To close out the event, Sam “The Cooking Guy” and Mama’s Kitchen Executive Chef Jason Martin went head-to-head in a culinary cook-off using a crowd-voted mystery ingredient: miso. Chef Martin walked away with the victory with his miso shrimp tacos. To recreate their culinary cook-off recipes, click here. 

Sponsors for this year’s Mama’s Day also included Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine, Bryan Crail and Tim Reed, Northrop Grumman, Encore Global, and Scatena Daniels Communications.

Mama’s Kitchen was established in 1990 by a San Diego caregiver who enlisted volunteers to prepare and deliver free meals to neighbors who were sick with HIV/AIDS and unable to cook for themselves. The organization realized that a reliable home meal delivery service was needed to ensure that these individuals would continue to receive nutritious, life-sustaining food.