It only takes one person to make a difference in the world. Rolling Hills resident Kelly Cook, Co-President of the Peninsula Education Foundation (PEF) along with Carlie Garber, is one such individual. She, along with her family, plays a vital role in organizing the highly anticipated food and wine festival, Toast on the Coast. This event is PEF’s biggest fundraiser and has become a staple in Palos Verdes. People eagerly await this special event each year, which has only grown in popularity since its inception.

 Be sure to Save the Date for Toast on the Coast on October 5, 2024, from 2-6 PM at Malaga Cove, Palos Verdes Estates. The festival includes gourmet food tastings, premium wines, craft beers, cocktails, and live music. General admission tickets are $150 and VIP Lounge tickets are $250. Following the daytime festival, there will be an Estate Wine Dinner from 6-10 PM. This special event features premium wines, live music, a live auction, and a paddle raise, creating a magical vineyard atmosphere under twinkling lights. Estate Wine Dinner tickets are $350, and combination tickets for the VIP Festival and Dinner are $500.

 

All proceeds from these events benefit the Peninsula Education Foundation, which supports the education of over 10,000 students in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District (PVPUSD). 

 

Kelly highlights the importance of the Foundation, stating, “The PVPUSD is one of the lowest funded school districts in California. When the Peninsula Education Foundation was founded over 40 years ago, we made up for the gap.” Through their excellent fundraising efforts, they not only cover the gap but also go above and beyond to ensure students receive the best education possible. Although it is a labor of love, it is heartwarming for Kelly to see the differences firsthand for students.

 

 

Kelly’s whole family is deeply involved in putting on this event. Her husband Richard and their daughters Leina and Anara help out in any way they can. Richard is known as the “heavy lifter,” handling logistics like carrying boxes and setting up signs. Leina, 19, is an economics and accounting student at UC Santa Barbara, and Anara, 17, is a senior at Peninsula High School. Both daughters have been actively helping, from making swag bags to organizing event materials.

 

Kelly’s involvement with the Peninsula Education Foundation began when her oldest daughter started kindergarten. She has served as a trustee for eight years and is currently co-president. Kelly finds the role incredibly rewarding and enjoys working with a “fantastic” group of people who share her same mission.

 

 

Kelly, originally from Taiwan, moved to Rolling Hills in 1988 when her parents relocated there. After college, she spent time in New York and Boston but returned to Rolling Hills in 2007, purchasing her parents' house when she was pregnant with her second child. Kelly is married to Richard Cook, a software engineer originally from California with a Colombian mother. The couple met through mutual friends and got married in 2002. Prior to living in California, they lived in Boston before making the move to the West Coast, putting down roots in the community. 

 

Kelly, Richard, Leina, and Anara enjoy the constant companionship of their two dogs, Coconut and Cookie, and two cats, Velcro and Stampy, who all get along wonderfully. Although they got them one year apart from each other, these four furry friends enjoy each other's company. There is no fur flying in the Cook household! 

 

The Cook family loves hosting dinner parties, barbecues, and pool gatherings. They are avid music lovers, attending concerts, musicals, and plays regularly. Kelly and Richard are also part of an ‘80s cover band, cleverly named “A Flock of Seniors,” where Kelly plays the bass and Richard plays the guitar. This tight-knit family also enjoys traveling, recently taking trips to Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Thailand to relax and unwind.

 

Their youngest daughter, Anara, is also musically inclined and participates in the high school choir and drama, as well as attending a summer guitar intensive at the Berklee College of Music. Their oldest daughter, Leina, is artistic and crafty, enjoying knitting and drawing. 

 

They love living in Rolling Hills. Kelly shares, “We love Rolling Hills and we love being a part of the community. We want to be there as long as we can.” It’s home sweet home to them.

 

Kelly and her family’s dedication to PEF and their community has made a significant impact, enhancing the quality of education and fostering community spirit in Palos Verdes. How many more lives will they touch? Only time will tell. 

 

Thank you, Kelly and the Cook family, for making a difference for students in the local area. Every ounce of effort pays off for the next generation.