In a unique approach to fundraising and celebrating, two well-known local businesses and one of Santa Fe's most popular nonprofits are joining together for the sixth time in as many years. Rarely does it happen that businesses in Santa Fe reach the venerable age of 25. Rarer, still, do businesses that have reached this milestone get the opportunity to celebrate together — and include good works, too. Smiles of a Summer Night, a fundraising event to mark the 25th birthday of three local institutions — the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, Goler Fine Shoes and La Casa Sena — is just such a rare occurrence. Slated for 6 p.m. on Sunday, June 28, it promises to be spectacular.

The evening will begin with a champagne reception, hors d'oeuvres and entertainment in La Casa Sena's flowered courtyard. La Casa Sena Cantina singers will entertain while waiters pass shrimp ceviche nachos, guava-barbeque pork skewers and olive-nopales tapenade crostini.

Members of the Santa Fe Symphony will play in small ensembles during the subsequent food courses, with solos, duets, trios and the Santa Fe Symphony String Quartet all taking a turn.

The meal continues with an arugula salad paired with toasted walnuts and goat cheese, then a main course of pan-seared sea scallops in a blood orange glaze. A cooling and palate-cleansing blackberry-mint granita precedes the dramatic dessert — a chocolate-tarragon pâté with sun-dried cherries, candied walnuts and cherry coulis.

La Casa Sena general manager Jack Baudo will be in charge of coordinating the night's festivities, and Chef Patrick Gharrity promises a creative and delicious multi-course menu. La Casa Sena, with the help of some of its distributors, has been able to absorb some of the food costs each year in order to help the orchestra raise money. The restaurant is also donating the wine for the evening. La Casa Sena Wine Director Byron Rudolph will hand-pick the night's selections.

Greg Heltman — trumpeter, founding member and general director for the Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra and Chorus — says that the businesses and the orchestra discovered their common anniversary several years ago, and have held a collaborative event annually for the past five years. He pointed out that they also share many clientele and patrons — since people who like good food and fine wine also tend to like Italian shoes and great music. The inspiration to join together was pure kismet, and he hopes that other businesses and arts groups will take a cue from them and develop partnerships.

Goler Fine Shoes will add to the festive feeling by presenting a prize drawing of gift certificates from both their store and the Symphony. Guadalupe Goler is proud to be part of the celebration and to be associated with La Casa Sena and The Santa Fe Symphony

"This is a great example of three local businesses supporting each other by collaborating in a fun evening," Goler says. "This is the way to persevere: strategic partnerships between the for-profit and non-profit worlds."

IF YOU GO

What: Smiles of a Summer Night

When: 6 p.m. Sunday, June 28

Where: La Casa Sena courtyard

Tickets: $125 per person; portion of proceeds go to Santa Fe Symphony Orchestra & Chorus

Information: Call 983-3530.