MOBILE, Ala. — The 17th annual “Food and Folly” event was held at Fort Whiting on Thursday night, bringing together local restaurants, wine, craft beer and spirits, along with music from the Excelsior Band.
It is the signature fundraising event for United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile, which serves children and adults with special needs across 32 counties in south and central Alabama. A television anchor served as emcee.
What the Money Does
Jennifer Cooley with United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile said every dollar raised helps with the organization’s ongoing mission.
“It provides very beneficial funding for the programs and services we provide for people with all types of disabilities,” said Cooley, director of marketing for United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile. “Obviously Cerebral Palsy, but Down Syndrome, Autism, Intellectual Disabilities, any type of kind of disability or special needs someone has.”
The breadth Cooley describes reflects how UCP affiliates have evolved. The organization’s name points to its founding focus, but affiliates across the country have long served people with a wide range of disabilities, and the services offered — therapy, early intervention, family support, employment assistance — apply across diagnoses.
Thirty-two counties is a large service area for a single affiliate, covering much of south and central Alabama. In rural parts of that footprint, specialized disability services are thinly distributed, and a regional provider may be the nearest option available to a family.
Restaurants Donating Time and Food
“We love being part of the community and love being involved with other restaurants who are bringing great flavors to the table for this event,” said Ron Sullivan, executive chef at Dauphin’s.
“We like to give back to the community since everybody comes in and sees us and has a good time with us,” said Kasey Burch, manager at Half Shell Oyster House. “We like to give back and donate our time and our food.”
Donated food and labor are what make a tasting event financially efficient as a fundraiser. When the participating restaurants absorb both ingredient cost and staff time, the event’s expenses drop sharply and a much larger share of ticket revenue reaches the organization.
The Excelsior Band
Music came from the Excelsior Band, a Mobile institution whose brass sound has been part of the city’s parades, celebrations and civic events for generations. Booking the Excelsior Band signals a certain kind of Mobile event — local, long-running and civic rather than corporate.
Fort Whiting as a Venue
Fort Whiting, an armory in Mobile, has served for years as one of the city’s larger event spaces, hosting Mardi Gras functions, civic gatherings and fundraisers. Its size accommodates a multi-restaurant tasting format, where guests circulate among stations rather than being seated for a plated dinner.
Auction and Wine Pull
The evening also included a silent auction, a wine pull and other surprises.
Those elements are standard revenue layers at tasting fundraisers, and they tend to account for a meaningful share of the total raised. A wine pull, in which guests pay a fixed price for a concealed bottle, converts donated inventory into direct revenue with minimal overhead.
About United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile
United Cerebral Palsy of Mobile provides programs and services for children and adults with disabilities across 32 counties in south and central Alabama. Information on programs, services and ways to support the organization is available through UCP of Mobile.