- March 24, 2025
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Corey McCoy and Lorraine Goetz
Photo by Ian SwabyDanielle and Nick Sammelman
Photo by Ian SwabyPatrick Foster and his wife, Southside Elementary Principal Allison Foster, cook some steak.
Photo by Ian SwabyPerformers Ananda Springsteen and Leaflin Winecoff walk on stilts outside Michael's on East. The event's performers were present thanks to Monet Sexauer, a parent at the school, who previously owned a performing business in California.
Photo by Ian SwabyAshley and Nico Palizzolo
Photo by Ian SwabyPatricia Cullen, Southside Elementary Principal Allison Foster, and Morgana Robson
Photo by Ian SwabyScott Perrin, Melanie Fischer and Steve Kucera
Photo by Ian SwabyJamil Pineda and Phil Mancini lead a cooking session. "Anything that had to do with helping kids is the best thing you can do..." said Pineda. "Anything that has to do with kids is my passion."
Photo by Ian SwabyGuests cooked a pasta dish at the event.
Photo by Ian SwabyJennifer McPheeters and Barbara Kobren
Photo by Ian SwabyEthan Biter and his wife, co-chair Molly Biter, organiztion president Lindsay Howell, and co-chair Sepi Ackerman and her husband Ryan Ackerman.
Photo by Ian SwabyHeather Blount-Elliott performs with hula hoops as guests enter.
Photo by Ian SwabyAshleigh Chasteen and Katy McBrayer
Photo by Ian SwabyNicole and Tommy Woycik
Photo by Ian SwabySarah Anderson (left) and Hilary Galt (right) try performing alongside professional entertainer Heather Blount-Elliott.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe event followed a chess theme.
Photo by Ian SwabyMolly Biter and Sepi Ackerman listen as Lindsay Howell speaks.
Photo by Ian SwabyMark Zolner and Rochelle Nigri
Photo by Ian SwabyLauren Blomster and Montana Taplinger
Photo by Ian SwabyLes McCurdy, owner of McCurdys Comedy Theatre, leads the auction.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe popularity of Cooking for the Arts, hosted in support of the arts at Southside Elementary School, has increasingly spread to the local community, said co-chair Sepi Ackerman.
On Feb. 28, Ackerman announced to a full ballroom at Michael's on East, that the event's popularity had shifted from the initial 10% community members in attendance who were not Southside families, to 30% the next year, and finally 40% this year.
"Tonight is more than just incredible food and great company," said event co-chair Molly Biter. "It's about ensuring that the creativity, education and inspiration continue to thrive."
Hosted by Southside School Foundation for the Arts, the event welcomed two chefs who are local celebrities, Phil Mancini and Jamil Pineda, who led attendees in cooking dishes included in the four-course dinner, as well as Les McCurdy, owner of McCurdy's Comedy Theatre, who led the event's auction.
This year's theme, "The Art of the Game," featured a black-and-white color palette centered on a chess concept.
The event raised over $100,000 for the foundation, which supplements the school district's arts funding, providing for a performing arts instructor, Tessa Scanlan; school productions specific to different grade levels; supplies related to art, theater and music, and other needs.
Southside Elementary Principal Allison Foster said she appreciated the community's support.
"Sarasota County Schools is an outstanding, top-notch school district and at Southside, we're very fortunate to have parents that are so involved and then the businesses that support us, that allow us to do things that we wouldn't be able to do otherwise," she said.
