| | Greater West Michigan Wines and Dines to Support CF
October 30, 2007
A little grappa, a little piccata, a little pasta….what could be better? At the Greater West Michigan fourth annual Wine and Roses for Cystic Fibrosis Dinner presented by the Lighthouse Insurance Group, guests were thrilled to mange Italiano while enjoying the finest wines. On October 12, 2007, the convention hall at the Eberhard Center on the Pew Campus of Grand Valley State University was transformed into a magical Fall forest thanks to plants donated by Molesta Floral and gorgeous bowls of roses by Design Chairman Matt Van Kirk.
Co-chair Paula Woodhouse and Emcee Larry Nienhaus from NBC WOOD TV 8 go over the plans for the festivities. |
Beautiful weather brought 300 guests to the event. (Exactly a year ago to the day, Michigan had received two inches of snow!). Inside, the room was abuzz as diners lined up at savory food stations to sample the offerings of Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Folks also tasted wonderful wines poured by such local celebrities as Gerry Barnaby and Kim Carson from WLHT 95.7 FM, Val Lego from WZZM 13, and TV luminaries Larry Nienhaus and Emily Zangaro from WOOD TV 8, and Emily Richett and Jon Shaner from WXMI FOX 17. The ENO Diamond Jazz ensemble serenaded the room as the crowd wined and dined.
Later in the evening, hearts were warmed by the words of twelve-year-old Mishaya Boss from Holland, Michigan, who told how she bravely deals with CF, beginning her treatments at 5:45 every morning and going to the principal’s office to take her enzymes before lunch each school day. Her mother, Mistie, noted, “Some days are tough, and others are even tougher. But I still believe that Mishaya will grow up to live out all her dreams.” In all, the generous crowd raised $50,000 in support of the CF Foundation.
Co-chair Paula Woodhouse said, “Being involved with Wine and Roses for the fourth straight year, I am exceedingly impressed with the increasing number of people who come out to support the Foundation's efforts toward finding a cure not only for my daughter, but the thousands of others just like her. The outpouring of community support has been phenomenal and the number of corporate tables sold has increased dramatically.”
Special thanks go to Presenting Sponsor Lighthouse Insurance Group and Wine Glass Sponsor McLeod USA. A tip of the hat also goes to co-chairs Geoff Widlak and Paula Woodhouse, whose leadership helped make the evening such a success.
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