For over 20 years, the Taste for Los Al has been a major fund-raising activity for most parent booster groups at Los Alamitos High School.
It was started in 2001 by OUR Los Al, a grass-roots organization started by some Los Alamitos High School parents who wanted to help support activities and improve facilities at Los Alamitos High School.
In 2001 OUR Los Al and the girls basketball boosters organized the first Taste for Los Al – based on the idea that by working together all groups could raise more money than by going it alone. And for restaurants it was a welcome single event where they could reach more people with their generosity.
In that first year, the booster clubs sold over 800 tickets and were extremely happy with the event. In recent years the Taste has averaged ticket sales of over 3,000 and gross revenues over two hundred and twenty five thousand. It is now one of the largest and longest-running single day Taste events in Orange County. In seniority, it is eclipsed on by the Tastes of the Town (Fullerton) (1979), San Clemente (1990), Yorba Linda (1991) San Juan (1995) and Brea (1998). In size and attendance, it is matched only by Brea.
Overall, since 2001, through ticket sales, silent auction, raffles and gear tables, the Taste has raised nearly $4 million to support Los Al High activities. The same four core people have been involved in every single Taste. Kristal Cheek, a Rossmoor parent and Long Beach teacher, has overseen “game day management” for every Taste, Diana Hill, a Los Alamitos businesswoman and former booster club President and current school board member, has been the booster club liaison from the beginning. Nancy Strawther has handled restaurant logistics and the books for every Taste, and Larry Strawther has overseen it all, receiving credit for work usually done by the others. Since 2007, Scott Emmons has been the Baron of the Brews
