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| (L to R) Jim Collins, Agnes Suzuki, Carol Collins and President Suzuki attended the Harvest Auction 2002 on Nov. 2 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown. |
More than 400 guests gathered to honor philanthropists Carol and Jim Collins for their extraordinary contributions to the hospitality industry during the ninth annual Harvest Auction held on Nov. 2 at the Los Angeles Marriott Downtown. The benefit grossed $337,781 for the Collins School of Hospitality Management at Cal Poly Pomona.
Robert and Margrit Biever Mondavi presented the 2002 Robert Mondavi Wine and Food Award to the Collinses for their advancement of the American wine and food industry. While Jim Collins developed a single hamburger stand into one of the country?s major food-service chains, Collins Food International (now Worldwide Restaurant Concepts Inc.), Carol Collins worked tirelessly to support educational and community activities. They generously shared their good fortune by supporting numerous organizations, including Cal Poly Pomona, the Los Angeles Metropolitan YMCA, the Venice Boys & Girls Club and UCLA. Jim Collins?s vision and dedication have been driving forces in the advancement of the hospitality industry at both the state and national level.
Carol and Jim Collins are Cal Poly Pomona?s largest individual donors since the university?s founding through a gift of land from cereal magnate W.K. Kellogg. The Collins family?s $10 million gift to the hospitality program in April 1999 facilitated the building of a state-of-the-art learning complex. Their overwhelming generosity inspired the California State University Board of Trustees and Cal Poly Pomona to rename the university?s hospitality school in their honor.
Harvest Auction 2002 celebrated the best of the fall season and featured a five-course dining experience prepared by acclaimed chef Mark Peel of the celebrated Los Angeles restaurant Campanile.
Auctions benefiting the Collins School of Hospitality Management raised $134,281?$57,181 through silent auctions and $77,100 through live auctions. Highlighted auction items were dinners prepared by celebrity and master chefs in the home, restaurant-quality culinary equipment, and unique travel packages. The evening?s top selling items went for $4,500 each, including: a week stay in a Montana cabin, a mini-vacation to New York with meals in the city?s best restaurants, and a gourmet barbecue dinner party at the winner?s home for 50 guests prepared by Collins School Associate Dean Jerald Chesser and university students.