23rd Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino

Guests Dine and Rock the Night Away at the

23^rd Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction at Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla.

Ann Storck Center kicks off its 35^th anniversary celebration with a night of food and fun.

On Friday, September 23^rd, 2016, a sold out crowd of more than 500 guests filled the ballroom at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Fla. at the 23^rd Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction to dine on the delicious culinary delights of 22 local restaurants and to raise much needed funds for the Ann Storck Center and its’ Early Intervention Preschool.  The annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction event has become one of South Florida’s most respected and sought after non-profit events, and is one of the highly anticipated culinary events of the social season as the originator of this type of event.    This year’s event was a resounding success, earning almost $270,000, thanks to the hard work and leadership of Event Chairwomen Rosalind Perlmutter and Susan Renneisen, Vice President of Community Affairs and Special Events for Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and was a great kick off to the Center’s 35^th anniversary celebration year!

Guests were immediately welcomed into the Silent Auction Reception, sponsored by Memorial Healthcare Systems, featuring an opportunity to bid on unique experiences, delicious dining opportunities, and more.  Once escorted into the ballroom, guests were treated to a performance by the kids of the Early Intervention Preschool.  Soon after, the Grand Tasting began, featuring 22 of South Florida’s most innovative and celebrated chefs from A Touch of Spain, Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, Aruba Beach Café, Beauty & the Feast, Bob Roth’s New River Groves, Brimstone Woodfire Grill, Café Ala Carte, Crave Rum, Georgia Pig, Hard Rock Café, JOJI Yogurt, Martorano’s, Mimi’s Ravioli, Myapapaya, Naked Taco, Native Brewing Company, Nisi, Riverside Market South, Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino’s Banquets Team, Sweet & Savory Catering, and Truluck’s Steak, Seafood and Crabhouse.  Entertainment was provided by Mario Fanizzi, a world renowned Italian pianist, actor and composer who has worked with some of the top names in the entertainment industry including Katy Perry, Carlos Santana, Miley Cyrus, Gene Simmons, and Andrea Bocelli.  Also performing that evening was Samuel Alexander, a young up-and-coming, award-winning, singer, songwriter, and pianist who has been involved with the Ann Storck Center for eight years, often coming to the Center to entertain the individuals.  Guests also enjoyed the PNC Bank photo booth and got to experience virtual reality technology firsthand thanks to Virtual Relief.

The Bids for Kids auction started off with a special surprise as Max Osceola, former Hollywood Council representative for the Seminole Tribe of Florida, presented Ann Storck Center Chief Executive Officer Charlotte Mather-Taylor with a check in the amount of $20,000 on behalf of the Seminole Tribe of Florida, and encouraged those in the audience to give from the heart and match, and exceed the Tribe’s gift.  Guests bought the Center a variety of mobility assistance walkers and wheelchairs, communication devices, sensory equipment, and provided general support for our programs and scholarships for some deserving individuals.Presenting Sponsors of the event included Mr. Joel & Mrs. Marcia Hochberg, Mr. Carl & Mrs. Angela Perez, the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, and the Seminole Tribe of Florida.   Other event sponsors included Dr. Alan & Mrs. Joan Ast, Mr. Robert and Mrs. Bari Jo Bernstein, the Perlmutter Family, Dr. Maureen L. Smith, Memorial Healthcare Systems, the Leo Goodwin Foundation, Mrs. Charlotte Mather-Taylor, the Rubin Group, Tobias Financial Advisors, PNC Bank, and many more.

“The Annual Celebrity Chefs Food Tasting & Auction event funds the many essential programs and services we provide to individuals with developmental disabilities.  With increasing needs and state funding challenges, our resources are limited.  Ann Storck Center relies on the generosity of individuals and businesses to keep providing these services.” said Charlotte Mather-Taylor, Ann Storck Center’s Chief Executive Officer.

About Ann Storck Center

Ann Storck Center is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children and adults with developmental disabilities for 35 years.  The Center cares for the most medically fragile and vulnerable individuals in South Florida.  It strives to create an exceptional living and learning environment which helps to discover abilities and builds independence.  The dedicated staff provides compassionate and caring services for the more than 300 children and adults and is noted for their commitment to excellence.   Ann Storck Center continues to raise the bar and set standards of care for others to follow. For up-to-date information, please visit: www.annstorckcenter.org, www.facebook.com/AnnStorckCenter1 and on Twitter @AnnStorckCenter.

About Seminole Hard Rock

Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, Florida, located minutes from Fort Lauderdale’s world-famous beach, features a AAA Four Diamond resort with 469 luxury rooms and suites, award-winning restaurants, high-energy nightlife, a lagoon-style pool and Beach Club, a Hard Rock-inspired spa, and premium meeting and convention space. As South Florida’s premier entertainment destination, Seminole Hard Rock hosts top-name acts at its 5,500–seat Hard Rock Live concert arena and offers more than 100 table games, 2,000 of the most popular slots and a stand-alone poker room. Fine dining options include Council Oak Steaks & Seafood, the resort’s signature steakhouse, and Kuro, a luxe and socially vibrant restaurant offering new-style Japanese cuisine. The resort also features contemporary and casual eateries, including Blue Plate, the hotel’s 24-hour diner-inspired restaurant; Constant Grind, a gourmet coffee and pastry shop; and the ever-famous Hard Rock Cafe – Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 167 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll restaurants.