Cater+Event Schedule 2027

For 30 years, the SEARCH Foundation has served as a lifeline for members of the events industry facing catastrophic illness, personal tragedy, and unimaginable hardship. This anniversary session will honor the history of SEARCH, celebrate the lives it has touched, and show how an industry devoted to creating meaningful moments for others has consistently stepped forward to care for its own.

Join David Lombardo and Kate Patay in a thoughtful, candid conversation about SEARCH’s history, its evolution, and the human impact behind its mission. Through key milestones, firsthand perspectives, and stories of assistance, attendees will see what 30 years of compassion looks like when an entire industry chooses to show up.

The Heart of the Session
The SEARCH story is not built only on major gifts or large fundraising campaigns. It is built through hundreds of smaller moments happening across the country: a donated auction item, a table filled at an industry event, a percentage of ticket sales, a spontaneous paddle raise, or a group of colleagues rallying around someone in need.

Individually, these moments may feel modest. Together, they become emergency assistance, breathing room, stability, dignity, and hope for people navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives. This session will connect those local acts of generosity to their national impact and remind attendees that every contribution matters.

Interested in attending the SEARCH fundraising event on Wednesday evening, March 24? Click here to add it to your registration package.