Catering WHYY’s Evening Honoring Malala Yousafzai

Honoring Malala

At WHYY’s Lifelong Learning Award, we had the honor of catering an evening honoring Malala Yousafzai and her global advocacy for girls’ education.

Malala first came to international attention as a student in Pakistan, where she spoke out publicly in support of education for girls. After surviving an attack by the Taliban at just 15 years old, she continued her advocacy on a global stage, later becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Today, her work focuses on ensuring girls around the world have access to 12 years of free, safe, and quality education. The event brought Malala’s voice and impact to Philadelphia, recognizing the work she continues to lead through the Malala Fund.

A Cocktail Reception to Welcome the Room

More than 300 Philadelphia leaders, supporters, and members of the community came together for the evening, for a cocktail-style reception. Guests were greeted with passed hors d’oeuvres, tapas-style bites, and interactive stations layered throughout WHYY’s Philadelphia headquarters.

Some of the highlights included our roasted garden station, our fresh (literally) take on the classic carving station. It featured a colorful cornucopia of grilled, braised, and roasted whole vegetables. Plates of vegetable biryani also roamed through the room, layered with basmati rice, roasted vegetables, yogurt, and accompanied by mini vegetarian samosas and coriander chutney, a combination that disappeared quickly for good reason. These were just some of the bites guests enjoyed before entering the auditorium to listen to a conversation between Malala and Terry Gross.

The Conversation Everyone Came For

Malala and Terry Gross talked through where her advocacy began, and how it has grown from speaking out as a student to carrying her message on a global stage. At its core, it was about what progress actually requires, long-term commitment, investment, and people continuing to show up. And in true Philadelphia fashion, Malala closed it all out with her best “Go Birds,” which earned exactly the reaction you’d expect.

A Sweet Finale

The crowd carried that energy back into the reception, where our Patisserie Vienna display of mini confections was waiting. Madeleines, éclairs, and tartlets filled the table alongside monogrammed cookies created for the evening. Butlered mini churros, dusted in cinnamon sugar and served with spiced chocolate, made their way through the room, giving guests more reason to stay a little longer.

While enjoying these sweet treats, guests lingered, taking in the excitement and inspiration Malala brought to the room. It’s that kind of energy that defines the City of Brotherly Love, showing up for one another and elevating voices like Malala’s, a champion, a leader, and a true inspiration.

As a Philadelphia hospitality group, we’re proud to be part of a community that continues to support organizations like WHYY and create space for moments like this. Being asked to cater an evening like this, and to play even a small role in it, is something we’ll always be proud of.

And nights like this tend to stay with you, in the conversations, in the energy, and in the way people carry it forward after it ends.

Photography Credit: (Emma Lee/WHYY)