UCLA Hosts Star-Studded 6th Annual 'Alex's Lemonade' Fundraiser To Combat Childhood Cancers
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — UCLA hosted the 6th annual "LA Loves Alex's Lemonade" event Saturday.
CBS2's Laurie Perez reported the event drew scores of Hollywood celebrities and major chefs and foodies from around the world.
The event is held to raise money and awareness of childhood cancers.
Chef David LeFevre brought his shrimp and pork dumplings.
Food Network's star Giada De Laurentiis made "a little crostino with ricotta cheese, a little cinnamon and chocccc-olate!"
And Jonathan Grahm's "Birthday cake chocolate bars" were a definite crowd pleaser.
But on this day, the true star of the show was obvious.
"Alex's Lemonade," said celebrity chef, restaurateur and "Chopped" judge Scott Conant.
For the 6th year in a row, dozens of celebrity chefs, celebrities and fans of both treated themselves to a culinary cookout, a delicious fundraiser for Alex's Lemonade Stand -- the national foundation that supports childhood cancer programs.
Perez reports the event is also a true family affair.
Alex, a little girl who started raising money for cancer research by running a lemonade stand in front of her Connecticut home, died from cancer 7 years ago at age 8.
Her mother, Liz Scott, was in Los Angeles to attend the annual event, emceed by CBS2's Pat Harvey.
"You know, by the end of the day, is when I really start to take it all in -- and I think wouldn't it be great if she was here to see this," said Scott of her late daughter.
Alex's Lemonade Stand has raised more that $100 million for research and patient support -- that's why even in a star-studded crowd, Alex still shined the brightest.
"This child made that choice [to help others,] with all she had going on," said actress Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope on "Criminal Minds.")
Her "Criminal Minds" co-star Joe Mantegna concurred.
"Here's an example, of misfortune that happened to this one child and look what it's turned into," Mantegna said.
Lemons, water and sugar. Sweet goodness made iconic by a sweet girl who wanted to help others and her legacy is that she is saving lives.
"We wouldn't be here if not for Alex," Conant said.
All of the celebrity chefs donated their time and their food -- last year's event raised $700,000.
This year, organizers told Perez they hope to surpass $1 million.
