Feeding San Diego’s Pairings with a Purpose at Callie Unites Community, Raising Over $500,000 to Support the Non-Profit’s School Pantry Program
The event, now in its third year, raised funds to help provide one million meals for students and families experiencing food insecurity
On February 26, 2026, Feeding San Diego and the restaurant Callie again partnered to welcome 145 guests to the Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party. The event raised the most funds since its inception, just over $500,000, to support the non-profit’s School Pantry Program. The evening included live and silent auctions, a raffle, and a paddle raise.
“We are beyond grateful that Callie continues to host this fundraiser and for our donors who showed up so significantly to support this year, getting us to over one million meals in one evening,” said Ali Colbran, senior director of development at Feeding San Diego. “The School Pantry Program is vital in communities around the county, and we are so grateful for such an event that brings both awareness and funds to provide hunger relief for kids and families.”
This is the third year in a row that the event has been held at Callie, the stunning East Village restaurant helmed by Chef Travis Swikard, himself a San Diego native. Travis and his wife Mia, along with the entire Callie staff, were on hand to support this incredible evening, creating a private dining experience for 145 donors. In addition to an exquisite seated three-course meal featuring the restaurant’s most revered dishes like Aleppo chicken, Mediterranean octopus, and handmade gnocchi, guests also enjoyed wine pairings with each course, hand-selected by Callie’s sommelier Skye Munroe, as well as specialty cocktails, tastings from Elijah Craig, and take-home treats from Magnolia Kitchen & Bakery.
This year, there was a surprise for the Callie team. Through the success of hosting Pairings with a Purpose over the past three years, along with their continued year-round commitment through special menu collaborations and ongoing generosity, they have helped raise enough to fully open and sustain a new school pantry for one year. At the event, it was announced that Burbank Elementary in Logan Heights, just a mile and a half from the restaurant, would be taken off the waitlist and sponsored by Callie. At that school, 95% of students qualify for free or reduced-price meals. The new pantry will serve 100 households every month.
“I believe in the power of giving, and through hosting the Pairings with a Purpose Dinner Party each year, I can show my team the importance of supporting programs that positively impact our community,” said Chef Travis Swikard, owner of Callie. “I am moved that our efforts mean we are able to sponsor Burbank Elementary to ensure students and their families receive the food they need. We look forward to continuing to foster our partnership with Feeding San Diego to bring awareness to this important mission.”
Following a pandemic-driven reset of the program, Feeding San Diego has been focused on rebuilding and expanding its School Pantry Program since 2022. It is a proven, longstanding hunger-relief program that provides nutritious food to students and their families on school campuses at no cost. For schools to qualify, at least 50% of students must qualify for free or reduced-price meals. In recent years, the program has expanded to 75 K-12 campuses across the county, but more than 50 schools remain on a waitlist to join.
This year’s Pairings with a Purpose Diner Party committee included Raquel Rogers, Hilary Loretta, Kacey DeBeer, and Mireille Barnard, and the evening was emceed by Troy Johnson, TV host, co-founder of the Del Mar Wine + Food Festival, and co-owner/chief creative officer of San Diego Magazine. Three Plate of Hope sponsors helped make the evening possible: Cal-Mil, Signature Aviation, and TrueCare.
