The inaugural Circle of Hope gala was held October 4, 2008 at Casa di Fede, the luxurious hilltop estate of Frank and Claudette Mercardante.

	Chef Jeff Henderson (center) with Terry “Gram” Adams (left) and CEO of New Haven Doreen Quinn.

The featured speaker for the evening, Chef Jeff Henderson  inspired guests with his amazing story of redemption. Once one of San Diego’s most wanted cocaine dealers, prison awakened his passion for cooking and a new and better vision for his life. With the odds stacked firmly against him, Chef Jeff  ultimately achieved his dream becoming executive chef at Café Bellagio in Las Vegas. Now his life’s story is a New York Times bestseller, the inspiration for a Food Network show, and the basis for a Columbia Pictures film with Will Smith playing the lead.

During the evening, guests were treated to live music from the Cecilia String Quartet, mouth-watering chocolate pairings by Chuao Chocolatier, wine tastings provided by Orfila Vineyards and led by wine connoisseur, columnist, and host of “A Taste of Wine,” Frank Mangio as well as a Tuscan-inspired cuisine in a storybook setting.

New Haven would like to thank the host committee for making the Circle of Hope gala such a memorable event: Chair Dawn Hall Cauthen, George Chamberlain, Robert Cunneen, Debbie Dorsee, Parisa Farokhi, Andrea Gherini, Deborah Haydis, Patrice Saxon, and Morgan Smith

To be added to our mailing list for next year’s gala, please e-mail info@circleofhope.org. To contribute or learn more, call (760) 630-4035.

About Circle of Hope

	“A Taste of Wine” host Frank Mangio discusses the wine selections with guests.

Circle of Hope, a philanthropic partnership serving at-risk youth, is an initiative of New Haven Youth and Family Services. New Haven is a non-profit social services agency focused on reclaiming youth for 8 to 17 year old boys in Southern California.  Since 1967, New Haven has helped 10,000 youth who have faltered in public school situations due to behavioral, mental health, substance abuse, learning disability, family distress, or truancy problems. Its intensive residential treatment, educational, vocational and clinical intervention programs are provided at its main campus in Vista plus 12 homes located in Vista, Oceanside and San Marcos in North San Diego County. Outpatient and in-home counseling services are also provided in Riverside County to at-risk youth and their families. New Haven contracts with more than 50 school districts across Southern California. In 2007, New Haven earned the annual Helping Hand award from the United Way of San Diego County in recognition of its YouthBuild career technical education program.

	Ian Ladd, Marco Wu, Doug Snodgrass, Christopher Ramirez, Michael McGinnis, host and New Haven board member Frank Mercardante, and TJ Henderson.		Chuao Chocolatier's Richard and Ruth Antonorsi with Jim and Patrice Saxon