Thanks to the Society of the Arts (SOTA) for providing us with the inspiration for a great kitchen story. Now here’s a little background on SOTA.

SOTA is a women’s service organization associated with the Allentown Art Museum. The Museum Directors Richard and Betty Hirsch, with Mrs. Channing O. Davis, the Founding Mother of the organization, founded it in 1964. The SOTA bylaws describe the group as one: “Whose purpose shall be to cooperate with and further the policies and service programs of the Allentown Art Museum and to contribute to the social and cultural life of the Lehigh Valley.” The group has grown from its humble beginnings, when members packed and unpacked crated exhibits, painted walls and backdrops for displays, and catered openings and other social events with food and service pieces brought from their homes.

Today, SOTA is best known for providing educational and docent guide services to the museum: organizing fundraising events like the annual Museum Gala and the bi-yearly Designer Showhouse, and for contributing over $600,000 for the acquisition of prints through the SOTA Print Fund, in 2007 purchasing a rare Rembrandt etching, Peter and John Healing the Cripple at the Gate of the Temple. Most recently, SOTA provided $100,000 in support of the Museum’s Capital Campaign to establish the SOTA Education Endowment Fund. The proceeds of the kitchen event will supply the funding necessary to provide visitors with free admission to the Allentown Art Museums on Sundays, as pledged by SOTA earlier this year. SOTA boasts 240 members and more than 100 volunteers who annually assist with workshops and family events at the Museum.

Over the past 45 years, SOTA has been recognized with awards and recognition for service to the Museum and the community, including the Arts Ovation Award, The Morning Call’s Community Spirit Award, and the Outstanding Fundraising Group by the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Eastern Pennsylvania Chapter.