(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