Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital Big Hearts for Little Hearts Loma Linda Guild raised more than $100,000 at its annual cooking school featuring the culinary arts of celebrity chef Martha Green, a Redlands resident, and holiday decor artist Derrick Vasquez, a fellow of the American Institute of Floral Design.

The Oct. 19 event, held on the grounds of the National Orange Show in San Bernardino, featured cooking demonstrations by Green and National Orange Show executive chef Richard Wolff.

The evening began with a holiday decor demonstration by Vasquez. He decorated several doors with colorful bows and ribbons and enhanced a number of holiday wreaths.

Vasquez’s artistic work was available for purchase following the event, with the proceeds going to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital.

Green showed the attendees how to make 13 delectable menu items for holiday cooking. Each of the menu items was sampled by the attendees.

Serving at the event were approximately 60 uniformed and non-uniformed men and women representing local law enforcement agencies, fire departments, Stater Bros. employees, and employees from Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, Loma Linda University Medical Center, and Loma Linda University.

Servers collected approximately $5,000 in tips—all of which were designated for the guild’s Children’s Hospital project.

Proceeds from this year’s cooking school benefited the pediatric intensive care unit at LLUCH.

Renatta Osterdock, M.D., head of pediatric neurosurgery at LLUCH, thanked the guild and the guests attending the event for their support of not only the pediatric intensive care unit, but also for their support of all the programs at LLUCH.

Osterdock was the lead physician in a team of 175 hospital personnel who separated twin girls joined at the head.

Coordinating the event were Nancy Varner, guild president, and Debbie Brown, guild membership chair.

“This is an event our hearts are in,” say Varner and Brown. “We love to do it and appreciate how much support the local community gives us and Children’s Hospital. We are definitely looking forward to next year’s event.”