FOODIES OPEN THEIR HEARTS AND APPETITES FOR FOSTER KIDS DURING THE LAGO MAR BEACH RESORT & CLUB “EAT YOUR HEART OUT” AT THE GALLERIA 

As many as 400 charitable foodies opened their hearts and appetites during the seventh annual Eat Your Heart Out culinary soiree at The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale. The event raised more than $90,000 for the Heart Gallery of Broward County, a respected not-for-profit committed to finding loving families for the hardest to place foster children.

“We are thrilled and proud of the success of our seventh annual Eat Your Heart Out event, supporting children who need a loving home,” said Yvette DuBose, executive director of the Heart Gallery of Broward County. “Thank you to our generous sponsors, participating restaurants, attendees and event leaders who helped make the night possible.”

Eat Your Heart Out attendees enjoyed delicious dishes and libations from a variety of stand-out restaurants, such as Andy’s Live Fire Grill, Angelo Elia Pizza, Bar and Tapas, Blue Martini, Bob Roth’s Grove, Bravo Peruvian Cuisine, BrownBag Popcorn Co., Canyon, Café Maxx, Café Seville, Café Vico, Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants, Culinary Republic, Fitlife Foods, Godiva Chocolatier, Il Mulino, Lips Fort Lauderdale, MOKSHA Indian Brasserie, Myapapaya, Phat Boy Sushi & Kitchen, Riverside Market and Café, Seasons 52, Serafina, Sweeter Days, Tarpon River Brewing, The Capital Grille, The Mermaid Bar – Neiman Marcus, and Truluck’s. The annual event also featured a silent auction event coordinated by co-chairs, Sandra Retford and Melissa Rocker.

One of the event highlights was the outstanding roster of celebrity guest servers who offered flavorful bites from the participating restaurants. Celebrity servers included Austin Bergman, Robert Boo, Carolyn Burns, Traci Cloyd, Mark Corbett, David Diaz, Heiko Dobrikow, Joe Feinberg, Ina Lee, Justin Nepola and Karen Prescod.

Sponsors for this event included title sponsor, Lago Mar Beach Resort & Club, Brotman Nusbaum Ibrahim, Marker Construction, Carefree Direct, Moss Foundation, The Galleria at Fort Lauderdale, GPR | Goodman Public Relations, Talenfield Law, Northern Trust, Panache Events, Gold Coast Magazine, Allied Kitchen & Bath, Modular Office Environments, Sharon Gustafson for the Florescue Family Foundation, National Adoption Day, Global Perishable Solutions, Bomar Builders, First Priority Audio, Alain Jean, Benedetti Orthodontics, South Florida Oral & Facial Surgery Dental Implant Center, All-Star Recruiting, American National Bank, Roselli & Associates, Teilen System Walls, Health Channels, HP Realty, Expedia Cruise Ship Centers, Representative Bobby B. DuBose, Carlos Martin Architects, Inc., Law Office of Michael E. Jones, P.A., Larry & Melissa Rocker, Bomar Builders, De’Marti Design, ADT, AT&T, AIS, FotoFollies, Tito’s Vodka, Florida Luxurious Properties and Florida Statement Insurance, Heidi Pettee Designs and Coastal Comfort.

About Heart Gallery of Broward County

The Heart Gallery of Broward County, one of over 100 independent heart galleries across the country, is a respected not-for-profit committed to finding loving families for the hardest to place foster children. The Heart Gallery of Broward County was introduced in 2007 as a traveling photography exhibit of foster children who were waiting to be permanently adopted and has evolved to work closely with ChildNet and local foster care providers to seek adoptive families and other connections for these children. For additional information, or to adopt, volunteer or donate, please visit heartgalleryofbroward.org.