Gingerbread House Contest Raises $1,700 for Coastside Children's Program

The Ritz-Carlton sets the stage every year for the annual Gingerbread House Contest and Auction, now in its ninth year this holiday season, raising funds for Coastside Children's Program (CCP), a nonprofit agency serving children and families from diverse multicultural and socio-economic backgrounds since 1975 with child care and development centers.

Anyone can submit a gingerbread house for the contest, which opens for bids on Dec. 1. This year the bidding process was extended through Dec. 9 since the event and tree lighting were cancelled due to inclement weather.

There are three categories: Children 12 and younger, Home Cooks and Professional Chefs & Culinary Students. Nearly all of the homes are sold to a new home and those proceeds go toward CCP.

This year, the silent auction raised $1,700 for the organization, which is almost half of what they raised last year.

"Last year was our biggest year in a long time, raising approximately $3,000," said CCP's executive director Agnes Chan. "Because the event was rained out this year, the amount raised was less but we learned through the process that in the future can can offer bidding for the houses online as well."

All auction winners this year were contacted directly by Coastside Children’s Program. For the Gingerbread House Contest, all houses were judged by The Ritz-Carlton Chefs.

Now, for the winners!

Gingerbread House Contest Results 2012

Children’s prizes:
1st place: $100 AMEX card, #4 – Invasion of Angry Birds
2nd place: $75 AMEX card, #7 – Nativity
3rd place: $50 AMEX card, #8 – O Christmas Tree
People’s choice: $25 AMEX gift card, #8 – O Christmas Tree

Home cook’s prizes:
1st place: Overnight stay in coastal view room and Chef’s tasting dinner for two in Navio, #6 – T’was the Night before Christmas
2nd place: Chef’s tasting dinner for two, #8 – Santa’s Workshop
3rd place: Sunday brunch for two, #1 – Christmas Cuckoo Clock
People’s choice: Sunday brunch for two, #6 – T’was the Night before Christmas

Professional prizes:
1st place: Overnight stay in coastal view room and Chef’s tasting dinner for two in Navio, #1 – Martis Camp Christmas
2nd place: Chef’s tasting dinner for two in Navio, #3 – Winter Wonderland
People’s choice: Sunday brunch for two, #2 – Victorian House

Gingerbread House Silent Auction Results 2012

Follow us on Twitter here | Like Half Moon Bay Patch here | Sign up for our daily newsletter | Blog for Half Moon Bay Patch here