Rebekah Children’s Services (RCS) celebrated the 10th Annual Pop A Cork, presented by Toni Julian and Harmony IQ, benefiting the Kneaded Culinary Academy on Saturday, May 2, 2026. The event brought together supporters, local businesses, culinary and tasting partners, vendors, and community members for an afternoon that highlighted both the impact of the program and the young people at the center of it.
This year marked the first time Pop A Cork was hosted on the Gilroy campus, welcoming an estimated 300 guests and raising an incredible $211,000 for the academy. “This was our most successful event we’ve had in terms of dollars and attendance,” said CEO Christophe Rebboah. Hosting the event on campus had been a long time coming, giving guests the opportunity to experience the heart of the mission firsthand. Throughout the afternoon, attendees toured the campus, visited the main building, and stepped inside the commercial kitchen where students train, grow, and build their futures through the Culinary Academy.
More than 20 culinary and tasting partners joined RCS for the event, including local wineries, breweries, restaurants, and chefs. Guests enjoyed elevated bites prepared and served by local chefs alongside current culinary students. One of the most meaningful moments of the day was seeing more than 30 alumni return to support the event and stand beside the program that helped shape their paths.
The Kneaded Culinary Academy serves more than 600 students annually across three counties and nine locations. Over the past 10 years, the program has maintained a 98% job placement and higher education enrollment rate, reaching 100% this year alone. Pop A Cork is about much more than food and drinks. It is about the confidence these young people carry with them, the pride they take in their work, and the community that continues to support them.
Save the date for the 11th Annual Pop A Cork, returning to the Rebekah Children’s Services Gilroy campus on Saturday, May 1, 2027.
— By Nayeli Ceja-Khaira
Fund Development & Community Relations Manager
