Northern Trust signs on once again as Title Sponsor
(Fort Myers, FL September 25, 2012) — The SWFL Wine & Food Fest 2013, Lee County’s largest fundraising event to benefit local children’s charities will be held Feb. 22 and 23, at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. For the fifth consecutive year, Northern Trust will serve as the event’s title sponsor, and Miromar Lakes will continue as the venue for the Saturday afternoon Grand Tasting and Live Auction. Last year’s Wine Fest auction netted $2.0 million, surpassing its own previous record net total of $1.6-million and making it Lee County’s all-time most successful fundraising event.
The primary beneficiary is The Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida which has received $4 million to date from the event. Additional benefiting organizations are Edison State College’s pediatric nursing program and Florida Gulf Coast University’s endowed music therapy program.
The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is a two-day event that begins with chef/vintner dinners in private homes throughout Southwest Florida on February 22, and concludes with a Grand Tasting and Auction the following day, February 23. The Grand Tasting features gastronomic delights from more than a dozen of the region’s finest chefs along with signature wines from California, Oregon and other popular European wine regions.
Fort Myers Northern Trust President Sandy Robinson announced the bank’s continued sponsorship of the event. “It is rare to be involved with an event that has such a tremendous direct impact on the quality of life in a community. The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest gives us the opportunity to directly touch the lives of people here in Southwest Florida.”
In addition to Northern Trust, the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is sponsored by Miromar Lakes, Grandeur magazine, Gulfshore Life, Gulfshore Business, Florida Weekly and Palm Printing/Printer’s Ink, as well as several private donors.
“The Wine & Food Fest combines some of life’s greatest pleasures – fine food and fine wine – with an event that truly allows people to make a difference. People enjoy having a good time with their friends while making a difference with their spirited bidding and generosity,” said Steve Machiz, M.D., founding chairman of the Wine & Food Fest. “Each year the event raises the bar with the wine offerings, food pairings and auction packages, and every year we have been more successful in raising funds for the Children’s Hospital and others.”
For more information The Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest, please go to www.SWFLWineFest.org, or call 239-278-3900.
