When firefighters sifted through the ashes of Bruno Serato’s burned Anaheim White House restaurant in 2017, they found a single silver crucifix-a gift from Pope Francis. For Serato, it was a sign to keep his faith and persevere. Inspired, he rebuilt his beloved Italian restaurant and expanded his mission: serving the city’s wealthy at night and feeding thousands of underprivileged children by day through his charity, Caterina’s Club.
Serato’s journey from busboy to acclaimed restaurateur has been marked by resilience and generosity no doubt. Named a CNN Hero in 2011, he now provides free dinners to over 5,000 children daily in Orange and LA counties, with every meal at the Anaheim White House helping to fund a meal for a child in need. His work has earned him numerous honors, including the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.
As Caterina’s Club approaches its 20th anniversary, Serato reflects on the encouragement he received from Pope Francis-“Bravo, continua cosi,” or “continue like this” – and remains committed to serving others, seeing his efforts as a tribute to the Pope’s legacy of compassion for the poor