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It was a night in paradise for guests at the fourth annual Celebrity Chef Party at Rumrunners, and all for a good cause.
The event brought together celebrity chefs from Rumrunners, the KitchenAid Culinary Center, H2, Harold’s on the Bay, The Joint and Norman Love Confections. All proceeds went to Barbara’s Friends — The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida cancer fund.
The party was sponsored by 95.3 OLZ and is an annual kickoff to the OLZ “Helping Kids with Cancer” Radiothon that will take place Oct. 26. It featured haute cuisine stations, choice wines and a silent auction.
The event sold out for the fourth year in a row with more than 200 people in attendance, said Sharon MacDonald, chief foundation officer at the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation.
She said last year the event raised just under $50,000, and about $250,000 when combined with the radiothon. They are hoping to raise more this year.
Jimmy Roberts, event chair, said he decided to host an event to raise money for pediatric cancer when a co-worker at 95.3 OLZ had a grandchild diagnosed with cancer. The grandchild was being treated at the local pediatric oncology unit, which at that time only had five beds.
His co-worker said the unit needed help and that was when Roberts became interested in doing something. He started the Radiothon, and then a few years later, he expanded the event to include the Celebrity Chef Party.
“We keep the kids in mind. Something should be done,” he said. “We like to bring out the real heroes, all the doctors and medical staff. These people are dedicated to the kids.”
Frank Haskell, founder of Barbara’s Kids, said the event was an example of the generosity of the community, and he appreciates Rumrunners running the event each year.
He said the nice part about the fund-raiser is all the money stays in the community helping the pediatric oncological center at HealthPark.
“We’ve built a lot of the facilities at HealthPark,” he said. “We do a lot of financial assistance with families. Most times, they are taking their children to the hospital once a week for three years. That can be a financial drain on families.”
Haskell and his wife, Betty, started the organization 12 years ago after their daughter, Barbara, died of breast cancer at the age of 36. Haskell said that at the time, he and his wife thought if they could raise one million dollars, it would be a blessing.
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Since they began, Barbara’s Kids has raised $7.5 million to benefit The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
Haskell said his daughter never had children of her own, but she was around children a lot, and before she died she asked that he and his wife do something for children.
Todd Johnson, executive chef of Rumrunners, helped Roberts come up with the idea for the Celebrity Chef Party when the event first started four years ago.
He said a lot of organizations ask Rumrunners to help with fund-raisers, but when he saw how devoted Haskell and Roberts were to Barbara’s Kids, he wanted to get involved.
He said the party is one event where every chef really tries to do their best since they are put on the spotlight and prepare the food on the floor in front of guests.
Johnson said there were two reasons why the event is important for the community.
“A, it raises money for a good cause,” he said. “B, it is a really good time to just relax. It’s a fun event.”
Norman Love, owner of Norman Love Confections, said Johnson invited him to take part in the event three years ago and he has been at it ever since. He said the event is a great way to help children.
“Even the very small part that I can contribute is so rewarding,” he said.
Martin Murphy, executive chef for Robb&Stucky’s KitchenAid Culinary Center, said it is important to give back to the community, especially when children are involved.
“We owe that to the community,” he said. “It can affect young kids when you do.”
Marvin Avilez, who was assisting Harold Balink of H2 Tapas and Wine Bar, said he took the night off from his current job just to come out and help.
“Anything for the kids,” he said. “Once a year is not enough. We should be involved more. It’s very necessary.”
Carol Heintz, a Cape Coral resident, said the event was wonderful. Her 10-year-old son, Christopher, is a cancer survivor and will be starting school on Monday at Hector Cafferata Elementary School.
“It’s so great for the community to back the local hospital,” she said.
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