‘To Save A Child’s Heart – Cooking for KD’ gala

A lineup of celebrity chefs joined chef and Kawasaki Disease parent Nate Appleman for the annual “To Save A Child’s Heart – Cooking for KD” gala. This event benefits the Kawasaki Disease Research Center at UC San Diego and Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego for ongoing research, treatments, and possible prevention.

The 2014 gala offered a unique opportunity to dine at a celebrity chef-hosted table. Guests, seated at intimate tables of 8, enjoyed a five-course dinner prepared tableside by one of the highly-acclaimed chefs attending from around the country.

Every year, more than 5,000 new children in the United States are diagnosed with Kawasaki Disease. KD is an inflammation of blood vessels throughout the body that primarily affects young children and infants. It is the leading cause of acquired heart disease in children. The exact cause of KD is unknown, but early detection and treatment can prevent permanent cardiac damage. For additional information, please visit www.KDFoundation.org.

Photos by Jon Clark.