Love's Easter eggs benefit Children's Hospital

PHOTO COURTSEY LOVE'S CHOCOLATE SALON One of six mega-sized solid chocolate eggs Anyone with visions of really big chocolate Easter eggs dancing in their heads had better hop to it.

On Friday, Fort Myers chocolatier Norman Love will award six mega-sized solid chocolate eggs - each three feet tall and weighing 15 pounds - to six individuals who have entered for a chance to win.

The handcrafted eggs are made with top-quality chocolate, are preservative free and are created by Love's team of chocolatiers. Consumer Reports has repeatedly deemed Love's chocolates among the best in the nation. In February, the magazine declared them the best of them all.

Proceeds from the Easter egg drawing will benefit The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida at HealthPark Medical Center.

"Easter is an exciting holiday for children," Love says. "Throughout the year I work with our chefs to identify ways to make a difference in the lives of others, and at this time of the year it's natural that we would choose a cause to benefit children."

Sharon Bartels, director of development, says The Children's Hospital greatly appreciates Love's support of its programs and that the money raised "will enable us to improve our programs and provide great things for the kids. That's the bottom line."

She also says it's a good way to bring attention to The Children's Hospital within the sprawling Lee Memorial system. "It's a good way to reach out to our employees, volunteers and physicians, especially for our newer employees" at Southwest Florida Regional and Gulf Coast hospitals.

To enter the drawing, chocolate lovers may fill out an entry form and donate $5 in the gift shop of any of Lee Memorial's locations: HealthPark Medical Center, Lee Memorial Hospital, Cape Coral Hospital, Gulf Coast Hospital or Southwest Florida Regional Medical Center. Entries will also be accepted at Love's Chocolate Salon in south Fort Myers.

The deadline to enter is Thursday, WEEK OF APRIL 5-11, 2007.

At 11 a.m. Friday at HealthPark, Love will draw the names and announce the six winners.

For details, contact Love at his salon at 11380 Lindbergh Blvd., Fort Myers, call 561-715 or visit www.normanloveconfections. com.