(March 17, 2010 – Fort Myers, Fla.) – This year’s Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, held on February 26 and 27 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, raised a record-breaking $930,000 (net, after expenses), most of which will be donated directly to three charities benefiting children’s health care in our area.

The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida will receive $700,000 from this year’s event, $173,000 of which was donated during the auction to specifically “fund the cause” of purchasing a giraffe bed/incubator, a RetCam to help prevent loss of sight in prematurely born infants, and a ventilator for the neonatal intensive care unit. Florida Gulf Coast University and Edison State College will each receive $50,000 to benefit programs related to educating future pediatric doctors and nurses.

“We played off the success of last year’s event, which raised $752,000 net,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest founding chairman. “The trustees and donors had the opportunity to visit The Children’s Hospital late last year to see how the equipment the event sponsors is used to save the lives of premature babies which helped bring the cause home to so many supporters.”

Both the private dinners held the evening of Feb. 26 and the Grand Tasting and Auction on Feb. 27 provided outstanding food prepared by local chefs, fine wine and the opportunity to support the children of Southwest Florida.

“It’s no wonder the event has grown to be the largest in Lee County,” said Dr. Machiz.

Professional Auctioneer Scott Robertson, of Commercial Properties Southwest Florida, Voiceover Artist Randy Thomas, and NBC-2’s Kellie Burns guided several hundred attendees through Saturday’s bidding and festivities at the Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. Along with the auction, local chefs joined more than a dozen wineries and distributors in the event’s Grand Tasting of wine and food.

“It poured outside as people were arriving, but that didn’t dampen any of the attendees’ spirits,” said Auctioneer Scott Robertson. “They were all very generous with their bids and donations.”

Northern Trust was the main sponsor of the 2010 Wine & Food Fest. Along with Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, other supporters of the event included Norman Love Confections, Angelina’s Ristorante, and Palm Printing – Strategic Solutions.  Media sponsors were the News-Press, Grandeur Magazine, Gulfshore Life, and Gulfshore Business.

The Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting and Auction was held in the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club and its outdoor waterfront venue.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children. For more information and more photos of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, or to watch for information about the February 25 and 26, 2011 event, visit www.swflwinefest.org or call 239-278-3900.

Original painting featured on event posters, to be auctioned at Grand Tasting on Feb. 27

(Fort Myers, Fla. – Feb. 5, 2010) – Joseph West, of Naples, a 5-year-old cancer patient at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, is a dedicated Florida Gators fan. He even dressed up like Albert E. Gator, the university’s mascot, for Halloween, and decorated his Christmas tree in all things Gator. So when local Artist Ellen Sheppard was planning her painting session with Joseph, The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s child artist selected to create the SWFL Wine & Food Fest signature poster, her husband John had just the right idea.  Known to many as the steadfast bearer of teddy bears to every young patient of The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, John Sheppard headed out to find a bear dressed up like University of Florida quarterback Tim Tebow.

Not only did Teddy Bear Tebow, as he became known, lift Joseph’s spirits, but he also provided the perfect inspiration for the painting to be featured on this year’s Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest posters. Ellen Sheppard has been offering her guidance to the hospital’s child artists for the signature posters of the SWFL Wine & Food Fest since nearly its inception over 6 years ago.

“Joseph loves his Gators, so Teddy Bear Tebow couldn’t have been a better pick for him,” says Joseph’s mom, Tiffany West. “He loves art projects almost as much as he loves the Gators.”

The Naples family makes several trips a month to visit Joseph’s pediatric oncologist at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida’s Chrissy Brown Cancer Unit for regular rounds of chemotherapy. Two years into his treatment, Joseph is doing well. Now his painting will help other ill children in Southwest Florida get well.

Joseph’s original acrylic painting, along with four tickets to the 2010 University of Florida vs. Kentucky game on Sept. 25, 2010 in the Swamp, will be auctioned off at the Wine Fest’s grand tasting on Feb. 27. Wine Fest Chairman Dr. Steve Machiz says the children’s artwork is typically one of the highest-bid lots.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children. It begins the evening of Feb. 26 when 19 families will host 11 dinners at private homes around Southwest Florida for invited guests donating $500 to $2,500 per seat. Each dinner will feature wines by featured vintners and Southwest Florida’s finest local chefs, including:

• Marbin Avilez Sr.,  Bayfront Bistro
• Nick Costanzo, Angelina’s Ristorante
• Reiner Drygala, Bistro 41
• Caroline Hostettler, 55 Degrees
• Ryan Leto, Roy’s
• Jeffrey Lucas, Ruth’s Chris Steak House
• Thomas Pedit, Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club
• Michael Ragusa, The Sandy Butler
• Jayson Rydell, Flippers – Lover’s Key Resort
• Andreas Singer, Hyatt Regency Coconut Point
• Jesse Souza, LaPlaya Beach Resort
• Gil Suarez, Capital Grille
• Eric Truglas, French Bread Oven
• Christian Vivet, Blue Windows Bistro & Catering
• Shannon Yates, Cru

With Special Guests

• Norman Love, Norman Love Confections
• Keegan Gerhard, Food Network
• Casey Thompson, Top Chef Season 3

The signature Vintner is Juelle Fisher, of Fisher Vineyards of Napa Valley. Other wineries represented are Ponzi Vineyards, Willamette Valley, Oregon; Teachworth Winery, Calistoga, California; Bodega Catena Zapata, Mendoza, Argentina; Tablas Creek Vineyards, Paso Robles, California; Anderson’s Conn Valley Vineyard, St. Helena, California; Turnbull Wine Cellars, Oakville and Calistoga, California; Castello Banfi, Montalcino, Italy; Silver Oak, Napa Valley, California; V Madrone Winery, St. Helena, California; Honig Vineyards and Winery, Rutherford, California; Peter Lehmann Wines, Barossa Valley, Australia, and more.

On Feb. 27, the chefs, vintners, dinner guests and others come together at the Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club for the Grand Tasting and Auction. Participating chefs prepare their favorite signature dishes to accompany signature Champagne Reception sponsor Piper Heidsieck’s Champagnes.

The Auction features exceptional packages of special and unique wines, exclusive trips, amazing dining experiences and more. All proceeds from the auction and event ticket sales will benefit three causes benefiting children’s health care in our area: The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Edison State College’s Pediatric Nursing Program and an endowment to Florida Gulf Coast University to establish a pre-med student scholarship.

Last year’s event netted $753,000 resulting in a $600,000 donation to The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and $50,000 to Edison State College.

For more information about the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest or ticket sales, visit www.swflwinefest.org or call 239-278-3900.

The SWFL Children’s Charities has established the “Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest Scholarship Endowment Fund” at Florida Gulf Coast University. The proceeds from this endowment will be used to benefit FGCU students interested in pursuing careers in pediatrics.

With the goal of raising $100,000 to fund the endowment, Dr. Brian and Maureen Schwartz, along with Allen and Donna Henry, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and chairwoman of the pre-med program at FGCU, plan to host a Chef Vintner dinner as part of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest in their homes. Additional dinners in the future will continue to grow the endowment.

Dr. Steve Machiz, Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest founding chairman said, “Our mission is to help the children of Southwest Florida. As you know, The Children’s Hospital of SW Florida is our primary beneficiary. We are delighted with our new partnership with FGCU. Establishing a medical scholarship to help deserving residents of SW Florida become pediatricians fits nicely with our mission.

Upon completion of the $100,000 pledge, the FGCU Foundation will apply for 50 percent in matching funds from the State of Florida Trust Fund for Major Gifts. When fully funded, the value of the gift will be $150,000.

Proceeds from the fund each year will be used for student scholarships for recipients who are enrolled at FGCU in a 3 plus 4 program partnership between FGCU and another Florida medical school – three years at FGCU in pre-med and four years at a Florida medical school to complete their medical school program. The scholarship will be awarded to students at the beginning of their sophomore year. Preference will be given to students who graduated from high school in the five-county Southwest Florida area. Preference will also be given to students who express interest in pediatrics as their chosen medical specialty.

For more information, media representatives should contact Senior Director of Advancement, Linda Lehtomaa at (239) 590-1071.

Local children in Southwest Florida will benefit from more than $750,000 (net, after expenses) raised during the 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, which concluded Saturday. More than $550,000 of that total came from the event’s auction, held as part of a Grand Tasting and Auction at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.

“We were concerned going in,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest founding chairman. “But we had the right items up for auction and, more importantly, the right people among our patrons, bidding generously.”

Professional Auctioneer Scott Robertson, of Cushman and Wakefield Commercial Real Estate Brokers, and Voiceover Artist Randy Thomas guided several hundred attendees through Saturday’s bidding and festivities. Along with the auction, 14 local chefs joined 16 wineries and distributors in the event’s Grand Tasting of wine and food.

“People who attended our tasting and auction were definitely in the spirit of stepping up and doing the right thing,” said Auctioneer Scott Robertson. “The people there were as extraordinary as the items up for bid.”

A telling point of the evening was an auction item that would fund purchase of an incubator for the Neonatal Unit at The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, valued at $45,000. Multiple bidders pledged their support, and the item raised more than $150,000 to purchase not one, but three of the highly specialized pieces of equipment.

Northern Trust Bank was the main sponsor of the 2009 Wine & Food fest. Along with Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, other supporters of the event included Lee Memorial Health System Foundation, Grandeur Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Specialty Risk Management and Private Client Insurance Services, Oswald Trippe, Pure High Net Wealth Insurance, Edison State College, Bank of Florida, Norman Love Confections, Angelina’s Ristorante, Palm Printing and Strategic Solutions.

The Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting and Auction was held in the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club and its outdoor waterfront venue.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children. This year’s funding will benefit the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Pediatric Nursing program at Edison State College.

For more information and more photos of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, or to watch for information about the 2010 event: www.swflwinefest.org or 239-432-9722.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest has named Silver Oak Cellars of California as the Signature Vintner for the 2009 Wine & Food Fest Chef Vintner dinners and Grand Tasting, February 27 and 28, 2009.

“Silver Oak Cellars has been making extraordinary Cabernet Sauvignon for over 35 years,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest chairman. “With estates in both Napa Valley and in Alexander Valley, Silver Oak Cellars brings some of the very best of California wines to the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest.”

Silver Oak Cellars crafts its Cabernet Sauvignon to be both drinkable when it is released, and to grow more luxurious over time. The wine’s extended aging process — first in a barrel, then in a bottle — helps provide its flavors.

In addition to Silver Oak Cellars, the 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is slated for a number of special, featured wineries. “We plan to go below the radar with some of the wineries,” said Machiz. “Because they’re so good and their production is so limited, some of these wines are only available at exclusive restaurants. We’re privileged to offer several of these ’secret Napa wines’ at our Chef Vintner dinners and Grand Tasting.”

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is pleased to also feature these very fine wineries:

Verite Winery is known for three signature red wines:  La Desire, La Muse, and La Joie.  Best described as a combination of “old world experience and new world fruit,” the three distinct European-style blends are created by winemaker Pierre Seillan from small, carefully-selected vineyard blocks.

Jonata Winery is under the same ownership as the legendary Screaming Eagle winery in Napa.  Located on 600 acres in the Santa Ynez Valley, the winery has achieved widespread recognition over the last three years for their Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Franc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and red blends.

Cakebread Cellars in Napa Valley was founded over 30 years ago.  Now under the direction of Dennis Cakebread and winemaker Julianne Laks, , the winery crafts a complete range of award-winning estate blended and single-vineyard white and red wines.

Ponzi Vineyards has the distinction of being our only winery not from California.  Since the 1960s the family has been crafting highly-regarded Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and other varietals in the prime winegrowing area of Oregon’s Willamette Valley.

Fisher Vineyards creates both red and white wines by following two distinct but complementary winemaking approaches.  One group is crafted from single vineyards, expressing the true character of the soil and climate.  The other employs the art of blending small lots from separate estate vineyards and varietals, creating harmony and complexity.

BR Cohn Winery was founded by Bruce Cohn in 1984.  Located in the heart of the Sonoma wine country, the winery produces a large range of varietal wines, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Zinfandel, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc.

The V Madrone Vineyard is on a prime hillside on Napa’s Route 29.  The 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon from this boutique winery, received a 93 point rating from Wine Enthusiast magazine.  The team of Chris and Pauline Tilley produces under 600 cases a year.

Garric Cellars is a labor of love by partners Gary Ochwat and Ricardo Cajulis.  Sourcing prime fruit from well-known vineyards, and crafting the wine in a state of the art facility, their powerful Cabernet Sauvignon was recently written up in Wine Spectator magazine.

Andrew Geoffrey produces only 1,300 cases a year of high-end Bordeaux-blend Napa Cabernet from a spectacular vineyard at the top of Diamond Mountain.  The winery has achieved a consistent record of success over the last four vintages.

The 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest begins on Friday, February 27 with Chef Vintner dinners at select area homes and continues on Saturday afternoon, February 28 with a Grand Tasting and Auction in the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, a residential waterfront resort community with over 700 acres of contiguous aquamarine freshwater lakes, three miles of private, white sandy beach and “Signature” Championship Golf. Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is located in Miromar Lakes, just north of Naples.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children.

For more information about Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest: www.swflwinefest.org or information on sponsorship or ticket sales, call 239-432-9722.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest has announced its lineup of restaurants and chefs participating in the upcoming weekend event to be held on Friday and Saturday, February 27 and 28, 2009. The chefs will join 16 wineries and wine distributors in the event, which features Chef Vintner dinners at select homes on Friday evening, February 27, and, for the public, a Grand Tasting and Auction on Saturday afternoon, February 28 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. The Wine & Food fest benefits children’s charities.

“The pairing of wine and food is an important culinary concept and is the cornerstone of the Wine & Food Fest,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest founding chairman. “We are thrilled by the caliber of our chefs and restaurants, the diversity of their culinary styles and their interest in serving the community.”

Visiting chefs Keegan Gerhard and Xavier Salomon join the event this year. Chef Gerhard was named one of the nation’s top 10 pastry chefs of 2002 and 2004 by both Chocolatier and Pastry Art & Design magazines and can be seen on TV as emcee and host of the live Food Network Challenge Series for the Food Network. Chef Salomon is from the Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay near San Francisco. Gerhard will join Norman Love of Norman Love Confections at the Grand Tasting and Auction’s dessert station on Saturday. Both Gerhard and Salomon will be preparing as part of the Chef Vintner dinners on Friday.

From Fort Myers and the beaches, chefs Norman Love from Norman Love Confections, Michael Ragusa from the Sandy Butler, Jayson Rydell from Flipper’s on the Bay/Lovers Key Resort, Todd Johnson from Artisan Bread Company, Richie Wilim and Josh Zeman from Cru and Shannon Yates from Bacchus will be featured in the Grand Tasting and Auction on Saturday. Wilim, Zeman and Yates join chefs Harold Balink from H2, Sean Boller from Sanibel Steakhouse, Gloria Cabral-Jordan from La Trattoria Napoli and Melissa Talmage from Sweet Melissa’s in preparing Chef Vintner dinners on Friday. 

From Bonita Springs and Estero, chefs Nick Costanzo from Angelina’s Ristorante, Caroline Hostettler from 55 degrees, Jeffrey Lucas from Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Vincent Mazzoli from The Grape, Andreas Singer from the Hyatt Regency Coconut Point and Thomas Pedit from Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club will be featured in the Grand Tasting and Auction on Saturday. Pedit will join chefs Nick Costanzo from Angelina’s Ristorante, Danny Mellman from Danny Mellman Catering, Kristina San Fillipo from Robb & Stucky Culinary and Wade Lowe from Roy’s in preparing Chef Vintner dinners on Friday.

From Naples, American Culinary Foundation member/chefs Frank Setera, Ralph Serraco, Wilhelm Gahabka and Chris Jones will participate in the Grand Tasting and Auction on Saturday. Chefs Brian Roland from M Waterfront Grille and Derin Moore from the Ritz Carlton Naples Beach Resort will be preparing Chef Vintner dinners on Friday.

Northern Trust Bank is the main sponsor of the 2009 Wine & Food fest. Along with Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, other supporters of the event include Lee Memorial Health System Foundation, Grandeur Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Specialty Risk Management and Private Client Insurance Services, Oswald Trippe, Pure High Net Wealth Insurance, Edison State College, Bank of Florida, Norman Love Confections, Angelina’s Ristorante, Palm Printing and Strategic Solutions.

The Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting and Auction will be held in the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club and its outdoor waterfront venue. Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is a residential waterfront resort community with over 700 acres of contiguous aquamarine freshwater lakes, three miles of private, white sandy beach and “Signature” championship golf. Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is located in Miromar Lakes, just north of Naples.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children.  The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida is this year’s beneficiary and secondary charity is Edison State College’s pediatric nursing program.

For more information about Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest: www.swflwinefest.org or information on sponsorship or ticket sales, call 239-432-9722. 

Available for public viewing at Saks Fifth Avenue January 21, 2009

 (January 14, 2009 — Fort Myers, FL) – If winemaking is an art then the SWFL Wine & Food Fest has taken that a step further combining world class art with world class wine in a piece that will satisfy a wide range of aficionados; Internationally acclaimed artist Romero Britto is lending his support and talent to the Wine Fest’s fundraising event by painting a 6 liter bottle of Silver Oak, vintage 1996.  Silver Oak Cellars is the signature vintner for the SWFL Wine & Food Fest.  It will be among many other special wine and art offerings up for bid at the Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting & Auction on February 28, 2009.  The “Britto Bottle” will be on display at Saks Fifth Avenue in the Bell Tower Shops from January 21 to February 19, 2009.

 The bottle of Silver Oak, donated by SWFL Wine & Food Fest Trustee Marshall Hanno, was adorned in acrylic paint by Britto and is packaged as a live auction lot with a 6 bottle vertical of Silver Oak in a collector’s box and a tour of the Napa Valley winery.  Other auction items include large format and unique wines from a variety of special wineries, trips including destination packages to the French Laundry, Jonata Ranch, Domaine Serene Vineyards, as well as experiential auction lots like Formula One Racing, tickets to the Master’s Golf Tournament, a cruise on a 100 ft. yacht with a 10 bottle vertical of Dominus for 8 people, and much more.   Proceeds of the auction and the weekend of Wine Fest events will benefit The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.   Tickets are now available.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest will be held February 27 & 28, 2009. The event begins on Friday, February 27 with Chef Vintner dinners at select area homes and continues on Saturday afternoon, February 28 with a Grand Tasting and Auction at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. The event is presented by SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. and will benefit the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Pediatric Nursing program at Edison State College.   

Northern Trust is the main event sponsor and the News Press and Grandeur Magazine are the exclusive print sponsors.

For more information about Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest: www.swflwinefest.org or information on sponsorship or ticket sales, call 239-432-9722.

About Romero Britto

A modern day pop culture icon, Romero Britto is one of the premiere Pop Artists of our time. As the youngest and most successful pop artist of this generation, Britto has managed to create contemporary masterpieces that evoke a spirit of hope and convey a sense of warmth. Embraced by the international community, Britto’s paintings and sculptures are currently featured on five continents in more than 100 galleries worldwide, including the Saatchi Gallery in London, who recently incorporated his artwork as part of the stable for their new online gallery. In addition, Britto’s artwork is also included in some of the world’s most impressive private collections.

 A career highlight for the year 2008 is the exhibition of his artwork entitled “Journey” that will premiere on December 11, 2008 in the prestigious Salon Nationale Des Beaux-Arts 2008, in the Carrousel du Louvre, Salle le Nôtre, Louvre Museum.

 As a talented and creative child growing up in Brazil, Romero Britto often painted images on any medium he could find, including scraps of cardboard and newspaper. His inner passion and drive to excel served as an incredible asset for a young man with a longing to nurture his creative side and experience all that life had to offer. His innate love for learning and education inspired Britto to channel his focus and commitment to excellence into his artwork. This dedication is what has helped Britto become an international success during the last 18 years.

Private collectors of his artwork include: Eileen Guggenheim, Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, Prince Albert of Monaco, Oprah Winfrey, Maya Angelou, Michael Jordan, David Rockefeller, Gloria Estefan and former United States Presidents Bill Clinton and George H.W. Bush to name a few. Roger Federer, Columba Bush, Shakira, Ryan Seacrest and Martha Stewart all own Britto portraits. Romero did a portrait for legendary art dealer Ernest Beyeler , the founder of Art Basel and the Beyeler Foundation for which the portrait helped raise funds.

Romero has been commissioned and continues to collaborate with corporations worldwide such as: Pepsi-Cola, Movado, Evian, TAM Airlines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Univision Television Network, NFL, Cirque de Soleil, Volvo, Microsoft, Nicole Miller, Bauducco and Disney.

Various museums around the world exhibit Romero’s artwork – Mola, Los Angeles; National Museum of Art, Rio de Janeiro; Evenson Museum, Syracuse; Coral Springs Museum of Art, Boca Raton; Museo de Artes Contemporáneo, Caracas; Museum of Art, Long Island; the Philharmonic Center for the Arts and The Von Liebig Art Center, Naples.

CAPE CORAL STUDENT SELECTED AS SIGNATURE ARTIST - Child Artist Helps Hospital that Helps Her

(Fort Myers – January 2, 2009) –Cape Coral middle school student Kishelly Brown created the signature poster for the 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. The annual event to be held this February benefits children’s charities, including The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida. Kishelly is an ongoing patient of the hospital.

“She has ulcerative colitis,” said Ingrid Trevino, Kishelly’s mother, of the disease which was diagnosed in January 2007. “It’s a disease of the colon that they don’t have a cure for, so it’s something we have to watch. She’s on medication the whole time, but she can get flare-ups whenever the disease starts to act up.”

Those medications, she says, have been as challenging as the disease. “Because of the medicine she’s taking, she gets a lot of headaches and dizziness,” said Trevino. “She was on steroids so long that she got osteoporosis. Then she was changed to a medicine that is like chemotherapy in a pill. And that caused her immune system to get so low that she was sick in the hospital for a whole month.”

The young woman’s frequent hospital visits might have played a role in her developing art interests. “Spending so much time in the hospital, she is always drawing,” said Trevino. “Miss Kelly from HealthPark was always bringing her crafts and art things to do because that’s what she likes to do in her spare time there. She likes painting things for other people, so that’s when Miss Kelly decided that she was the one to do this art for the Wine Fest.”

Kishelly’s original art for the 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest signature poster is a painting of a smiling teddy bear, seated in front of a blue vase filled with white, orange and purple flowers. She was guided by Fort Myers artists and Teacher Ellen Sheppard. “She is an amazing teacher,” Trevino says of Sheppard.

While Kishelly’s illness might be evident on a hospital chart, it is not so obvious in the patient. “She’s very easy-going,” said Trevino. “The nurses love her because she lets them do everything they have to do. No matter how much pain she’s in, she always has a smile on her face.”

Kishelly’s smile and personality have earned her a fan club of sorts. “She gets a lot of visitors,” said Trevino. “All the nurses want to go see her when she’s in; As soon as they find out she’s in, they have to go see her.”

Throughout her treatment and hospital visits, Kishelly has excelled in her school work, which she continues to do at Caloosa Middle School in Cape Coral.

Kishelly’s future art could be even more important than the piece she has designed for the Wine & Food Fest. “She is excited about it,” said Trevino. The only thing Kishelly wanted for Christmas was a paint and art set, because she wants to draw pictures like the one she drew for the Wine Fest to take to the kids in the hospital, her mother said.

The poster featuring Kishelly’s painting promotes the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, which will be held February 27 & 28, 2009 at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club. The event begins on Friday, February 27 with Chef Vintner dinners on Friday night at select area homes and continues on Saturday afternoon, February 28 with a Grand Tasting and Auction at Miromar Lakes. The event is presented by SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. and will benefit the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Pediatric Nursing program at Edison State College.   

Northern Trust is the main event sponsor and the News Press and Grandeur Magazine are the print sponsors.

For more information about Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest: www.swflwinefest.org or information on sponsorship or ticket sales, call 239-432-9722.

(Fort Myers – November 25, 2009) — The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest and Northern Trust Bank join in announcing Northern Trust’s participation as the main sponsor of the Wine & Food Fest, February 27 and 28, 2009.

Northern Trust joins local chef vintner dinner hosts, local and visiting chefs and vintners from California and the northwestern states, and from around the world in supporting the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest. The event is presented by SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. and will benefit The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Pediatric Nursing program at Edison State College.

“Northern Trust is pleased to be a continued supporter of children’s charities in Southwest Florida,” said Sandy Robinson, president of Northern Trust Fort Myers. “We are committed to supporting events and organizations that provide important benefits to the community. The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a perfect example.”

The 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest begins on Friday, February 27 with Chef Vintner Dinners at select area homes and continues on Saturday afternoon, February 28 with a Grand Tasting and Auction at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.

“The support of Northern Trust is a big help to us in raising support for the charities,” Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest founding chairman, “It also demonstrates with sponsors such as Northern Trust and the others, that the Wine & Food Fest is a signature event in southwest Florida.”

In addition to Northern Trust Bank and Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club, other supporters of the event include:  Lee Memorial Health System Foundation, Grandeur Magazine, Saks Fifth Avenue, Specialty Risk Management and Private Client Insurance Services, Oswald Trippe, Pure High Net Wealth Insurance, Edison State College, Bank of Florida, Norman Love Confections, Angelina’s Ristorante, Palm Printing and Strategic Solutions.

The Wine & Food Fest Grand Tasting and Auction will be held in the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club and its outdoor waterfront venue.  Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is a residential waterfront resort community with over 700 acres of contiguous aquamarine freshwater lakes, three miles of private, white sandy beach and “Signature” championship golf. Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is located in Miromar Lakes, just north of Naples.

The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children.

For more information about Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest: www.swflwinefest.org or information on sponsorship or ticket sales, call 239-432-9722.

          (Fort Myers – November 4, 2009) — The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest will be held February 27 and 28, 2009 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. The event begins on Friday, February 27 with Chef Vintner dinners at select area homes and continues on Saturday afternoon, February 28 with a Grand Tasting and Auction at Miromar Lakes. The event is presented by SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc. and will benefit the Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida and the Pediatric Nursing program at Edison State College.
          “We are thrilled to be holding the 2009 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest at Miromar Lakes,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest chairman. “To have our Grand Tasting and Auction on the waterfront at Miromar Lakes makes the event as unique to Southwest Florida as its location is. And the Miromar Lakes Beach Club will showcase the Food and Wine Fest as one of Southwest Florida’s signature events.”
          The Southwest Florida Food and Wine Fest begins February 27 with a series of Chef Vintner dinners, pairing renowned vintners with both premier visiting chefs and local celebrity chefs.  The dinners will be hosted in some of the most exclusive private residences in Southwest Florida.
          The event continues on February 28 with the Grand Tasting and Auction beachside at the Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. The Grand Tasting exhibiting the local talent of some of our area’s finest chefs who will prepare samplings of their specialties alongside wine tasting stations showcasing wines from some of the world’s greatest wine-growing regions. After that, the Auction features exceptional packages of wine, exclusive trips, amazing dining experiences and artwork from artists including Robert Rauschenberg and more.
          Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is a residential waterfront resort community with over 700 acres of contiguous aquamarine freshwater lakes, three miles of private, white sandy beach and “Signature” Championship Golf.
          Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club is located in Miromar Lakes, Florida, just north of Naples.

            The Southwest Florida Wine and Food Fest is a signature event of the SWFL Children’s Charities, Inc., a 501c3 non-profit organization that provides funding to local charities serving local children.
          For more information about Southwest Florida Food and Wine Fest, visit www.swflwinefest.org