This coming Friday, July 24, Vanilla Moon in Mount Pleasant will play host to the first edition of "Dinner for a Difference" a new charitable dinner initiative founded by Skyla Grace Greenwood, aimed at rallying the community around causes that matter.
The concept is refreshingly simple: a few hours, a shared meal, and a room full of people choosing to show up for something bigger than themselves. According to Greenwood, each edition of the dinner will support a different local organization, with this inaugural evening raising funds for Kukosha, a group dedicated to supporting young mothers and vulnerable children. Guests can expect a relaxed evening featuring soup, spaghetti, and Malva pudding, brief remarks honouring the cause, and performances by African Voices an all-female a capella quintet.
For Greenwood, the initiative is as personal as it is communal. Reflecting on her own upbringing, she credits her parents for never placing limits on what she could achieve — an experience she believes every child deserves. With a goal of selling out all 40 tickets to raise a minimum of $1,200, plus additional donations, Greenwood hopes the dinner marks the beginning of something ongoing rather than a single feel-good evening.
Newsday Life & Style reporter Khumbulani Muleya (KM) sat down with Greenwood ahead of the event to talk about her motivation, the meaning behind the name, and what she hopes "Dinner for a Difference" will grow into.
Q: What is the motivation for running this event?
Skyla: For a while, I felt strongly like I needed to do more with my life. But I needed to do something meaningful and impactful. I also realized I didn't do enough for my community. So yes, it is a bit of a selfish motivation, but it's also because I know as a community we can do so much more.
Q: Who exactly will benefit from the funds that will be raised?
Skyla: Every dinner will benefit a different organization. This first dinner we're doing is supporting Kukosha, an organization that supports young moms and vulnerable children.
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Q: What will the event consist of? Besides the performances by African Voices, are there going to be speeches, an auction or keynote address, or a specific dinner menu planned?
Skyla: There will be a few brief speeches throughout the night — nothing long and dragged out, just enough to bring attention to the purpose of the dinner and give thanks to the necessary people. The menu for this evening is very simple, as we really want to emphasize that it's not actually about the meal itself — it's about the community coming together, having a nice evening, and supporting something bigger. The menu consists of soup as a starter, spaghetti as the main, and Malva pudding for dessert.
Q: What is the specific fundraising goal for the event? What does success look like?
Skyla: The goal is to sell all 40 tickets, so a minimum of $1,200 from ticket sales — but if we can get extra donations on top of that, that would be amazing. Success looks like, of course, selling all our tickets and raising funds. But it is also the idea of bringing the community together and showing people that it's not always boring to do something good.
Q: What is the story behind the name "Dinner for a Difference"? Why is raising funds for underprivileged kids a personal priority for you?
Skyla: The story behind the name is that it's only one evening — a few hours out of your day — but the reward is long-lasting and impactful. I realized that growing up, my parents never limited me and would do anything in their power to help me. I truly believe every child should have that opportunity — every child should have an equal chance at success. I also believe it's our responsibility to create a way for every child to feel secure. Security is a crucial part of childhood development.
Q: What is the most pressing challenge the children you're supporting are facing right now?
Skyla: Kukosha helps feed over 30 families, as well as providing infant formula to countless mothers. Keeping a consistent flow of funds, or even the products themselves, can be extremely challenging. I always emphasize that a tub of formula is $7 and can feed a baby for days — it can be the difference. And let's be honest, we probably all spend that on a coffee alone.
Q: How can people participate?
Skyla: Simply buying a ticket will go a long way. We're also looking for anyone willing to sponsor any part of the evening. If you can't make it to the dinner, even a donation directly to Kukosha is great.
Q: Is this the first edition of the event? What does the future look like? What are your hopes for the future?
Skyla: Yes, this is the first dinner we're doing. But this is just the start. We plan to continue doing regular dinners supporting different causes and growing a strong community
