Celebrity Waiter dinner to benefit Child Care of Southwest Florida

Politicians, business leaders and media personalities will don their aprons and

work for tips at the first-ever Stars for Kids Celebrity Waiter Dinner and Auction Saturday, Nov. 14, benefiting Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc.

A dozen local celebrities have signed up so far to be celebrity waiters at the event, to be held from 6:30 to 10 p.m. at the Sanibel Harbor Resort & Spa. Individual tickets are $100 and may be purchased by calling 278-1002 or visiting the Web site at www.ccswfl.org.

Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Marietta Mudgett and auctioneer Scott Robertson will share duties as master and mistress of ceremonies.

“We want everyone to have fun, enjoy a scrumptious meal prepared by the chefs at the Sanibel Harbor Resort & Spa, and be generous in their tips to help support our kids,” said Beth Lobdell, CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc.

Celebrity waiters confirmed so far include Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, Lee County School Board member Jeanne Dozier, FOX-4 News anchor Amy Wegman, Nicole Papageorge of WINK-TV and Jim McLaughlin of

Florida Weekly.

Business leaders include Carol Conway of CRS Technology; Lisa Cronin-Miller of LARC; Jon Finstrom of Yacht Clubs of America; John Mann Jr. of Integrated Business Solutions; Steve Tirey of the Southwest Florida Chamber of Commerce; and Jeff Santella of Street Defense.

At a celebrity waiter dinner, guests ask the celebrity waiter at their table to serve their meals and perform “extra duties” in exchange for additional tips. The waiter who collects the most tips from his/her table wins the coveted 2009 “Most Appreciated Celebrity Waiter Award.”

The evening also will include both silent and live auction items, including a two-night stay at the Sanibel Harbor Resort and Spa, an Orlando get-away package with lodging, restaurants and theme park tickets, and a day-long fishing charter. Mr/ Robertson, who has many years of auctioning experience, will serve as auctioneer.

JUDAH Of special interest will be an original painting created during the evening by popular local artist Jan Ellen Atkielski. Diners will be able to watch the artist’s progress during dinner as she paints an original acrylic landscape of Florida, which will be auctioned during the live auction portion of the evening.

Funds raised during the evening will be used to provide scholarships for lowincome children to receive child care in the eight centers operated by Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc.

Child Care of Southwest Florida Inc. is a private nonprofit organization dedicated to providing high quality child care services throughout Southwest Florida. The agency provides child care for children from infancy through age 12 at its eight child care centers in Lee and Hendry counties. In addition, it offers training for early childhood professionals, and administers the federal food program for eligible centers and family child care homes throughout Southwest Florida. The agency must rely on generous donations and volunteer efforts from members of the community, corporations and foundations to build and maintain programs that make a difference to low-income children. It is a United Way agency. 
DOZIER
WEGMAN
PAPAGEORGE