7th Annual Winter Wine Festival to Benefit Area Cancer Survivors
On Saturday, February 18, 2012, 300 guests will gather at the magnificent St. Charles, Ill., home of Ed and Karen French for the 7th Annual Winter Wine Festival. This invitation-only, $250 per guest event benefits LivingWell Cancer Resource Center, a community-based, not-for-profit organization devoted to providing support and educational services – free of charge – to those touched by cancer.
Set throughout the French's exquisite home, the Festival features a progressive, room-by-room presentation of culinary delights - from sumptuous sushi to decadent desserts - prepared by local chefs and caterers, along with unique and premium reserve wines donated and poured by winery owners and representatives from across the country.
The event also will feature live and silent auctions consisting of rare items, exclusive trips and once-in-a-lifetime experiences. New to this year's event is a raffle drawing for a pair of Rolex time pieces courtesy of Razny Jewelers. Tickets are just $100* each and are available to the public through the Festival website at www.LWWinterWineFestival.com.
“The Rolex raffle is definitely a highlight of this year's event and something we hope will help generate greater awareness for LivingWell among the community at large,” said Lori Hansen, Festival coordinator. “Anyone can participate in the raffle whether or not they plan to attend the event. Tickets can be purchased online for just $100, a donation that will go directly to supporting LivingWell programs and one that could potentially yield a tremendous return on investment in the form of a stunning Rolex timepiece.”
Adding to the festive atmosphere will be a line-up of musical entertainment ranging from local protégés to internationally renowned, multi-platinum recording artist, Richard Marx, who will give a private concert for guests during the event.
“We are absolutely thrilled to have Mr. Marx joining us this year,” said Hansen. “He is as well-known for his philanthropic endeavors as he is for his incredible repertoire of hit recordings. Our guests are in for a very special performance.”
The Winter Wine Festival is funded entirely by donations and sponsorships from community members and organizations, including Harris Bank which has signed on as Presenting Sponsor for the second consecutive year. All proceeds from the Festival will go to fund the more than 55+ programs and services offered through LivingWell Cancer Resource Center. The only comprehensive cancer care resource available in the western suburbs, LivingWell has served the needs of more than 10,000 people, providing services that encourage, educate and emotionally support people living with cancer, as well as their family members, caretakers and friends.
“LivingWell is the one place in the Fox Valley region where cancer survivors and the people in their lives can go for information and support services without having to pay for anything. The success of this event is critical to our ability to continue providing these much-needed services,” explained Susan Lyons, director of development for LivingWell. “We are a community-based, community funded organization committed to providing all programs and services free of charge. We do not receive any federal or state funding and rely solely on philanthropy to fund our work. If it weren't for events like the Winter Wine Festival and the tremendous generosity of our entire community, we would not have been able to grow at the rate we have and provide assistance to so many individuals and families in our community who are living with cancer.”
For more information about the LivingWell Winter Wine Festival, visit www.LWWinterWineFestival.com or contact LivingWell at 630/262-1111. Event and raffle tickets may be purchased online, at LivingWell Cancer Resource Center in Geneva, Razny Jewelers in Addison, or through a number of area businesses. See website for a complete list of participating supporters.
# # #
*NOTE: The winner of the Rolex timepieces will be responsible for paying LivingWell Cancer Resource Center twenty-five percent of the fair market value, less the cost of the raffle ticket(s).