Project AWARE Enterprises, Inc. presents
The 20th Anniversary Black Tie Fundraising Gala

Saturday, November 8, 2025 | Courtyard Marriott Liberty Station | San Diego, CA

Project AWARE Enterprises, Inc., operating under the umbrella of PA Enterprises, Inc. -a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization - is proud to host its first-ever fundraising gala, celebrating two decades of healing, advocacy, and transformation. This milestone event commemorates where we started and boldly affirms where we are and where we’re going.

Born from lived experience, Project AWARE was founded to meet the urgent need for emotional literacy, restorative justice, credible mentorship, and leadership development in communities often pushed to the margins. Over the past 20 years, we’ve grown from a grassroots vision into a dynamic and trusted community-based organization providing programming inside youth detention centers, schools, and neighborhoods throughout San Diego County.

This gala is more than an evening of elegance; it’s a testament to resilience. Funds raised will sustain and expand our work creating safe spaces, uplifting youth and families impacted by systems of harm, and equipping the next generation of leaders with the tools to heal and thrive.

Keynote Speaker: Chef Jeff Henderson

We are honored to welcome the award-winning chef, bestselling author, and motivational speaker Chef Jeff Henderson as our keynote speaker. His powerful journey, from incarceration to becoming the first African American executive chef at world-renowned resorts like Caesars Palace and the Bellagio, mirrors the very heart of what Project AWARE stands for: redemption, purpose, and the power of second chances.

Chef Jeff discovered his passion for cooking while incarcerated and used that passion as a springboard to rewrite his life’s story. His memoir Cooked became a New York Times bestseller, leading to national media appearances and inspiring audiences around the country. In 2020, he founded The Chef Jeff Project, a nonprofit that empowers at-risk youth and adults through culinary training. Today, he continues to motivate and ignite transformation through his story, showing what’s possible when people are given a chance to grow.

Join us for an unforgettable evening as we honor the past, celebrate the present, and invest in the future of our youth, communities, and collective purpose.

This celebration would not be possible without the support of our community and partners. To help us make this night even more impactful, we invite individuals, businesses, and organizations to consider becoming sponsors. Sponsorship opportunities are now available. If interested in aligning your band with our mission and investing in transformational change, please contact info@paenterprisesinc.org.