ACE Awards 2024: Catered Fundraising Event of the Year

Come one, come all! The RAD Gala, which stands for Rising Above Disabilities, put on a show with a circus-themed fundraiser to expand their programs for adults and children with developmental disabilities. The Raddest Show on Earth, inspired by the circus-themed movie The Greatest Showman, put a circus spin on the traditional gala, with joy and nostalgia in every detail. From lobster corn dog Ferris Wheels and deep-fried Oreo sundaes to Monkeys in a (Whiskey) Barrel cocktails, guests enjoyed an evening of good old-fashioned fun and fundraising for a good cause.

Circus-themed centerpieces

Guests were greeted at cocktail hour with a choice of specialty beverages, a “Your Circus, Your Monkeys” barrel-aged Old Fashioned with a barrel of monkeys garnish, or a “You Wake ‘Em, You Take ‘Em” Spicy Margarita, a nod to the program’s camper curfew policy. Tray-passed hors d’oeuvres were curated to be familiar bites with fun presentation, setting the mood for a fun-filled night ahead. Mini stainless-steel skillets filled with gooey mac and cheese, pretzel bites served on a circus-painter palette, and mini lobster corn dogs served on a Ferris Wheel were all show-stoppers at cocktail hour.

Once invited into the reception, the table centerpieces integrated florals with golden circus animal statues and tickets. A circus snack mix of popcorn, animal crackers, and M&M’s was placed at each place setting. We served gourmet burgers with custom branded burger picks, paired with sides of elote salad and fries in red and white paper cups. Dessert stepped right up with a deep-fried Oreo sundae, served in a classic animal cracker box.

Mini Lobster Corn Dogs

The most memorable part of the evening was when the fundraising total was announced of a half million dollars, allowing the RAD organization to expand their program and accept more adults and children with developmental disabilities. 

Congratulations to 24 Carrots Catering & Events and all of this year's ACE Award recipients! 

All photos courtesy Amelia Lyon Photo/24 Carrots Catering & Events

The Raddest Show on Earth

Gala reception

Mini Mac and Cheese Skillets

RAD Gala decor

Pretzel Bites - Smoked Gouda Fondue, Everything Spice

Mini Lobster Corn Dogs, served on Ferris Wheels

Guests were greeted at cocktail hour with a choice of specialty beverages, a “Your Circus, Your Monkeys” barrel-aged Old Fashioned with a barrel of monkeys garnish, or a “You Wake ‘Em, You Take ‘Em” Spicy Margarita, a nod to the program’s camper curfew policy.

Gourmet Burger, Elote Corn Salad, French Fries, Mini Heinz Ketchup

Deep-Fried Oreo Sundae, served in Animal Cracker Boxes

Deep-Fried Oreo Sundae, served in Animal Cracker Boxes

RAD Gala

The Raddest Show on Earth

Circus-Themed Centerpieces

The Raddest Show on Earth

Submissions Now Open

It's once again time to celebrate the best of the best! Submissions are now being accepted for the Catersource 2025 Achievement in Catered Events awards (ACE)!  We invite you to submit your best work from the past year. Join in the excitement and the spirit of our industry as we celebrate the hard work and exceptional accomplishments of our peers.

The categories for 2025 are:

To submit an entry to this year's ACE awards, please visit our awards portal at https://ace-gala.awardsplatform.com/

Important Dates

If you are interested in entering in the Gala awards instead, you can enter the Special Event 2025 Gala awards in the same online portal as the ACE awards. Catersource + The Special Event will run February 24-27 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Both the ACE and Gala awards will be presented during the conference at the Broward County Convention Center in Fort Lauderdale.