The South Bay Shines Bright @ White Light White Night!

Over 1,000 guests attended Walk With Sally’s 7th Annual White Light White Night fundraising gala which, once again, wowed the South Bay.

The sold-out benefit was held Saturday, July 27 at the MBS Media Campus movie lot and sound stage in Manhattan Beach.

Walk With Sally Co-Founder, Nick Arquette, successfully brought together a cadre of enthusiastic volunteers, compassionate community members, local businesses and generous sponsors to create an evening of light, love and laughter.

After having pictures taken on the red carpet, guests - clad in varying shades of white - strolled onto an outdoor set reminiscent of a classic New York City street, complete with shops, restaurants, parking meters, trees and fire hydrants.

The decadent Taste of Los Angeles was located on a back lot and featured over twenty of the South Bay’s hottest restaurants including newcomer Chez Soi, Paul Martin’s American Bistro, Silvio’s Brazilian BBQ, Circa, Zinc@Shade, Kincaid’s, Hudson House, Tin Roof Bistro and other local favorites.

Guests nibbled on an eclectic assortment of hors d’oeuvres and small plates while perusing tables loaded with items for the silent auction. The extensive selection included gift baskets, fine art and sports memorabilia along with an extraordinary selection of wine.

Patron, a major sponsor or the event, offered a variety of deliciously unique cocktails at locations throughout the venue while wine connoisseurs discovered new varietals in the wine tasting garden courtesy of Uncorked Wine Shop and Barsha Wines & Spirits. The crew at the Stella Artois tent kept the kegs flowing into their signature beer glasses and Pisco Porton served their Peruvian potions in color-changing LED glassware.

A sound stage was transformed into an intimate lounge filled with white seating, white flowers and glowing chandeliers. Once the crowd was comfortably settled, Chairperson Cyndi McMaster took to the stage, thanking sponsors and attendees for their support.

In a moving speech, Arquette explained the genesis of Walk With Sally and the importance of supporting children whose lives have been debilitated by the emotional experience of living with or losing a parent or sibling to cancer. 

Guests were then treated to a special acoustic performance by Fertitta & McClintock and a documentary featuring Walk With Sally mentors and mentees.

Michael and Andrea Zislis of Zislis Group and Shade Hotels were presented with The Beacon of Light award, which honors individuals who go above and beyond, year after year, to support Walk With Sally’s mission.

The festivities continued with a live auction which featured a remarkable assortment of big ticket items such as luxury boxes and season tickets, private home and resort stays, chef experiences, private parties and a complete wedding package at the new Shade Hotel Redondo Beach.

The crowd then spilled back out onto the street for the highlight of the evening - a live concert by contemporary swing band, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. The band had the audience on their feet hopping and bopping the rest of the night with hits such as ‘Go Daddy-O’ and ‘You and Me and the Bottle Makes Three Tonight’.

Walk With Sally is dedicated to providing mentoring support programs to children of parents or siblings with cancer - one child at a time, one heart at a time - and the South Bay community came out in force to demonstrate their support for these essential programs.

For more information on Walk With Sally and White Light White Night, visit the website at http://www.walkwithsally.org/ or call 310-378-5843.