Monterey Jazz Festival has a two-week summer jazz camp for middle and high school students, taking place at Monterey Peninsula College, June 10-21, 2013.

Meals on Wheels of the Monterey Peninsula (MOWMP) named Dorothy Maras-Ildiz, a long-time supporter and volunteer as their Woman of the Year.

Ms. Maras-Ildiz will be honored at the 6th annual Women Who Care (and the men who love them) luncheon on Sunday, June 2nd at the Monterey Marriott.

Maras-Ildiz has a long history of volunteerism and a celebrated career in hospitality. Dorothy owned her first restaurant in Sacramento at the age of 19. Working in the downtown area she came across many homeless and hungry people and never hesitated to feed whoever came to the back door looking for something to eat. 

“Witnessing the volume of food that went into the garbage cans, it didn’t make sense to me, not to feed those in need.” said Maras in a news release last week.

Currently Dorothy serves as the culinary liaison Coastal Luxury Management which produces The Pebble Beach Food & Wine event and the Los Angeles Food & Wine event.

In just a few short months, Monterey will feature headline acts including Diana Krall, Wayne Shorter, Bobby McFerrin, and Bob James & David Sanborn at the Monterey Jazz Festival.

The Festival features 500 artists, and more than 100 performances from iconic and emerging jazz artists, educational events, conversations, and exhibits on eight stages and more, for 30 hours of live music spanning two days and three nights, accompanied by an array of international cuisine, shopping, and more on the oak-studded 20 acres of the Monterey County Fairgrounds.