On Thursday, Feb. 9, donors, trustees and sponsors of the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest gathered at the Southwest Florida Performing Arts Center in Bonita Springs for apreview party in anticipation of uncorking the power of giving at the upcoming 2017 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest event. Hosted by the organization’s three beneficiaries, Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida, Florida Gulf Coast University and Florida SouthWestern State College, the evening included a reception and dinner featuring an assortment of fine wines.
Auctioneer Scott Robertson and NBC-2 anchor Kellie Burns presented highlights of the 40 auction lots featuring exclusive getaways, luxurious wine and culinary offerings and once-in-a-lifetime experiences that will be available for bid at the Live Auction. In addition, this year’s Child Artists, Leo and Lola Grabinski, made a special appearance, and Kellie Burns made a heartfelt plea in support of this year’s fund-a-cause initiative for pediatric mental and behavioral health care services at Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.
The 2017 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s Chef Vintner Dinner will take place on Friday, Feb. 24, followed by The Grand Tasting and Live Auction on Saturday, Feb. 25 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club.
Pictured left to right:
Photo 1: Robert Roop and Margaret Antonier
Photo 2: Laura Grabinski, Dr. Emad Salman, Leo and Lola Grabinski, Matt Grabinski
Photo 3: Dave Copham and Randy Darrow
Photo 4: Pason Gaddis, Rob Wilson, Kelly and Jason Stephens
Photo 5: Elaine Hawkins and Brooke Denson
Photo 6: Bev Cherry and Pat Gibbons
Photo 7: Kellie Burns, Debbie Toler, Christin Collins and Scott Robertson
Photo 8: Todd and Wendy Tooley with Sonya and Brian Sawyer
Photo 9: Dorothy Fitzgerald, Gloria Jordan, Ester and Steve Machiz
Photo 10: Mitch Cordova, David Collins and Scott Kashman
Photo 11: Kathy Bridge-Liles and Paul Liles
Photo 12: Rob Wilson, Rio DeArmond, Debbie Toler and Kelly Stephens
Photo 13: Karen Pickrum, Olga Piaceres, Jason Stephens, Dave Copham, Linda Walker, Shawn Tubman
Photo 14: Fred Hawkins and Ron Fitzgerald
Photo 15: Skip Leonard, Boots Tolles and David Collins
[/fusion_text][fusion_images picture_size=”fixed” hover_type=”none” autoplay=”no” columns=”5″ column_spacing=”13″ show_nav=”yes” mouse_scroll=”no” border=”yes” lightbox=”yes” hide_on_mobile=”small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility”][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-1-300×229.jpg” image_id=”11837″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Robert Roop and Margaret Antonier” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-2-300×174.jpg” image_id=”11838″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Laura Grabinski, Dr. Emad Salman, Leo and Lola Grabinski, Matt Grabinski” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-3-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11839″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Dave Copham and Randy Darrow” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-4-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11840″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Pason Gaddis, Rob Wilson, Kelly and Jason Stephens” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-5-237×300.jpg” image_id=”11841″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Elaine Hawkins and Brooke Denson” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-6-300×219.jpg” image_id=”11842″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Bev Cherry and Pat Gibbons” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-7-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11843″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Kellie Burns, Debbie Toler, Christin Collins and Scott Robertson” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-8-300×193.jpg” image_id=”11844″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Todd and Wendy Tooley with Sonya and Brian Sawyer” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-9-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11845″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Dorothy Fitzgerald, Gloria Jordan, Ester and Steve Machiz” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-10-300×239.jpg” image_id=”11853″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Mitch Cordova, David Collins and Scott Kashman” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-11-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11854″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Kathy Bridge-Liles and Paul Liles” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-12-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11855″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Rob Wilson, Rio DeArmond, Debbie Toler and Kelly Stephens” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-13-300×200.jpg” image_id=”11856″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Karen Pickrum, Olga Piaceres, Jason Stephens, Dave Copham, Linda Walker, Shawn Tubman” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-14-300×297.jpg” image_id=”11857″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Fred Hawkins and Ron Fitzgerald” /][fusion_image image=”https://swflwinefest.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Photo-15-300×206.jpg” image_id=”11858″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” alt=”Skip Leonard, Boots Tolles and David Collins” /][/fusion_images][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]