Calif. chef serves up generosity to homeless kids

(CBS News) ANAHEIM, Calif. - A while back "On The Road" introduced us to a man who had heard a voice, telling him to share his good fortune. The voice was his mother's.

Well, he' still listening to his mother and is giving even more unto others. We caught up with him..."on the road."

Bruno Serato, owner of the Whitehouse restaurant in Anaheim, had a pretty carefree life of hosting and hobnobbing with Orange County's most rich and famous.

That was until his mother Catarina came over to visit from Italy, and messed up everything.

Upscale Restaurant Owner Feeds Homeless Kids

As we first reported a couple years ago, Bruno was on the board of the local Boys and Girls Club and he just wanted his mom to see the place. The club serves a lot of homeless kids who sometimes go hungry.

Watch "CBS Evening News" first report on Bruno Serato from 2010:

Bruno told his mom this, and according to club director Mike Baker - that was it.

"I heard her in Italian," said Mike, "grab his arm and say some things to him, and he just started raising his hands and goes, 'Mama, mama, OK, OK, OK!'"

She basically ordered Bruno to feed the kids that night -- all of them.

"Seventy to 80," said Bruno, "and I was like, 'Oh my God.'"

Bruno said it was a lot of food to just give away, but Mama wouldn't leave the kitchen until he did it.

"That was actually April 18, 2005," said Mike, "and it's happened everyday since."

Although not even Mama expected him to do it more than once. Bruno has since served about a quarter of a million very nice meals.

"Here we have some of the poorest children in Anaheim eating from one of the most exclusive restaurants every single night," said Mike.

Bruno says the kids are now, by far, his favorite customers. "You have to see to believe it," he said.

Only here do his profiteroles get this kind of reaction. He says it makes all the sacrifice worthwhile.

And there has been sacrifice. Bruno has had to refinance his restaurant.

"I had to refinance my house also," said Bruno. When we asked him how can he keep feeding these kids, he answered: "How can I stop?"

Using that same logic, he now does even more. "Why should I not?"

Since our last visit, Bruno has gone from feeding, to housing as well.

This family from the Boys and Girls Club had been living in a motel. The mom, like a lot of working poor, could never save the first and last month's rent required to get her own place, which is why Bruno has been holding fundraisers to cover that cost for people.

So far, he has made the dream come true for 20 families. And there will be more. In fact, Bruno said he'll continue helping these families right up to the day he goes to heaven.

"I know I'm going to go to heaven," he said. "I know I'm going to go first-class, champagne, caviar, one-way, non-stop. That is for sure."

Just don't book it yet, Bruno.

To contact On the Road, or to send us a story idea, e-mail us.

[PEretired]

Matthew 25:35. Thank you, Steve Hartman, for another wonderful report.

[DeHose]

How might we donate to Bruno's cause?

[Jaylah54200]

How about starting something like this in your own community?

http://foodatfirst.wordpress.com/


http://www.facebook.com/FoodAtFirst

[PEretired]

a very good question, DeHose. Let me begin my comment by saying that I live on the east coast, and that I never heard of Mr. Serato before seeing Steve Hartman's piece.

While most of us pale in comparison to what Mr. Serato has done, and is doing, some try to help by making a donation to a group organized to help those less fortunate than ourselves. We have to be careful though, because with some charitable organizations a larger part of donations goes to administrative costs than others. It's something to check out.

Given that Mr. Serato has refinanced both his house and his restaurant to continue to do his good work, I suspect that most of the donations to Caterina's Club go to feeding and housing the homeless in Anaheim. Check it out for yourself.

http://www.thecaterinasclub.org/

[MagnaCartaUK]

Well done to him - a socially-conscious man. His Italian mum made me smile, taking him to one side and telling him to feed the kids. I have southern European relatives through marraige, and one of their great, and sometimes amusing traits, is the matriarchal standards the mothers insist must be adhered to at all costs - and a good thing too. It also highlights the desperately sad subject of homelessness and its often unseen contributory aspects, which, when concerning children, becomes particulary poignant. The figures of adult homelessness are little known of generally by the public; in Britain a survey revealed the range to be from from human beings with mental health issues, to ex-armed forces personell. through to professional individuals like accountants - but nearly all had abilities and talents that were suppressed by a condition and circumstances that placed that talent beyond their reach. One can only wonder at the talent going to waste - which - with a little investment - could prove of great benefit. In modern times however, I suppose the culture of squandering good people reaches everywhere. What a waste.

[littlejudy2]

I don't know who you are, MagnaCartaUK, but that is one of the most well written comments I've ever read. Kudos!