September 2021 Newsletter
Chef Dylan Soro Sweeps So-Cal Chef Open
The sold out 14th Annual So-Cal Chef Open hosted 350 guests outside at Temecula Creek Inn for a great night of food, friends, and a great cause. "The Chefs and food were amazing and I loved that it's outdoors," said guests.

Chef Dylan Soro swept the competition winning both the Pinnacle Award and 1st Place People's Choice Award.

2021 Pinnacle Award Winners
1st Place - Soro’s Mediterranean Grill – Executive Chef Dylan Soro
2nd Place - Cork Fire Kitchen – Executive Chef Matthew Steffen
3rd Place - Avensole Winery – Chef Armando Cota
 
People’s Choice Award Winners
1st Place - Soro’s Mediterranean Grill – Executive Chef Dylan Soro
2nd Place - The Chef’s Grille - Chef Martin Corso
3rd Place - EaT 310 – Chef Keion “KT” Taylor

Hear from the winner himself by clicking below!
Enjoy Chef Open Dishes ALL YEAR LONG

Did you miss the Chef Open this year? Have no fear! You can enjoy the culinary expertise of current and past winners through a new program, Wine & Dine for A Cause benefiting Oak Grove Center.

Stop by the featured restaurant the last week of each month and proceeds benefit Oak Grove!

This month you can enjoy two-time winner and TV personality, Chef Rosie with Provecho Grill in Menifee. Order the Signature Dish, which is the same dish she won the Pinnacle Award in 2017, and proceeds benefit Oak Grove's youth. See Provecho Grill's Menu, read more about Chef Rosie, and get directions by clicking the button below. See you there!
CULINARY CREATIONS
Cookie of the Month
This month's featured cookie is a melt-in-your-mouth butter cookie with just a hint of mint and the perfect amount of sweet white chocolate chips. September's Cookie of the Month is the "White Chocolate Chip Mint".

For the second month in a row, this young man in Dorm C won the Cookie of the Month challenge to be our featured Culinary Chef.
 
During his time in the program, this young man has grown in many ways. He now has the goal to continue his education in the Hospitality Industry, which is a direct outcome of being part of the Culinary Vocational Program supported by Culinary Creations and your Cookie of the Month membership. Noticeably, he has also grown in his confidence and social skills - two things the program has helped him build from creating the cookie recipes to working with customers in the store.

Learn more about this impactful program and how you can get involved by visiting our website below.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Annual Rewards Party
We are so grateful for the hospitality of Ed & Lani Morel! For a second year, they generously hosted two parties to reward youth who had good Attendance and Positive Behavior. They had a blast with pool fun and pizza!!

Southland Sings Performance
The Autism Program put on a great show for family and friends in August with their Southland Sings production.

Southland Sings is a program that offers Residents and Students a chance to write lyrics, compose music, and perform their creations. Oak Grove uses the program as a tool to help youth better communicate and express emotions as well as learning to enjoy music and make friends.

The class is offered four times per year with the Summer session offered to our Autism Program Students. See more photos of their performance here!

Thank you to the 2021 Southland Sings Sponsors!
Gosch Auto Group
Pechanga Development Corporation
Tom & Jackie Roney
Supervisor Chuck Washington

Oak Grove is in need to continue this program for 2022 and provide the opportunity to more Students. Contact Kristi Piatkowski for more information on how you can sponsor, or click here to make a gift.
Last Day of Summer School
The Students had a sweet surprise in August for the last day of Summer School! Thanks to Oak Grove Ambassador, Cori Carey and her company, Drive Real Estate, the Students and teachers were treated to Kona Ice.

Thank you Cori Carey and all the Drive Real Estate Team Members who raised funds for the special treat!
PARTNERS FOR IMPACT SPOTLIGHT
Thank You to Our
2021 Annual Sponsors
The Oak Grove Annual Sponsors are generous corporations and local businesses whose annual commitment support fundraising efforts and sustain Oak Grove’s valuable programs.

Monthly Impact Leaders
The Mighty Oaks are monthly Givers whose regular contributions support the special needs of Oak Grove's youth. They are the water and the sunshine for all our little acorns whose constant support helps them grow into Mighty Oaks.

Thank You!
Frontwave Credit Union will be partnering with Oak Grove for the Wine & Dine for A Cause. We appreciate their generous and on-going support helping at-risk and special needs youth receive job training and skills through Culinary Vocational Program. Thank you!
THE DREAM TEAM
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Oak Grove Center has amazing staff that empower our youth and help transform lives every single day. We appreciate our Essential Workers. They are our Heroes!

July Meeting the Moment HEROES:
Erik Romero, Dorm B
Quintessa Price, Dorm A
Krystyna Soch, Day Program
Jackie Utterberg, Dorm C
Victoria Fernandez, Dorm B
Stephanie Cruz, Dorm A


UPCOMING EVENTS
MURRIETA ROD RUN
October 8-9, 2021
Downtown Murrieta

This premiere car show features hundreds of beautiful cars, vendors, food, music and more. An annual tradition and favorite car show for miles around! The car spots are all sold out, but you can still enjoy the show. So come on down! Join us in October for classic cars, music and vendors in beautiful old town Murrieta.

Contact us for Sponsorship or Vendor opportunities
reaching over 20,000 spectators!
Murrieta Rod Run is brought to you by Drifters Car Club of Southern California
See a list of our generous Early 2021 Sponsors & Vendors
Contact us to become a Sponsor or Vendor and reach over 20,000 potential customers!
ADOPT-A-WISH
December 2021

Consider adopting a wish of one of Oak Grove's youth without a family. The Holidays can be a difficult time for these children as they have constant reminders of broken dreams and Holidays spent without a family. Your gift meeting one of their wishes could mean the world to a child or teen.

Contact Kristi Piatkowski for More Information
(714) 260-2699 cell
WINE & DINE FOR A CAUSE
Sept. 27 - 30
Whether you are taking a client out to lunch or having a date night with your significant other, consider dining at Provecho Grill and enjoying the award-winning Signature Dish. Proceeds benefiting Oak Grove Center.
EVERY DAY WAYS TO HELP
You shop there, so make it count! Select Oak Grove Institute Foundation through your AmazonSmile Program and every qualifying purchase will help get much-needed items for the youth and help our families in financial need.

Click below to register!
Now Open Sundays!
Visit Culinary Creations in Old Town Temecula for a cup of coffee, a cookie or both! Every purchase supports the vocational program training youth for employment and introducing them to new careers.

Store Hours:
Mon/Tues: Closed
Wed/Thurs: 11 am - 6 pm
Fri/Sat: 11 am - 10 pm
Sun: 11 am - 6 pm

New Website:

For catering inquiries:
(951)-319-0627 Phone

Message us on Facebook or Instagram
2021 ANNUAL SPONSORS
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