HEART OF FLORIDA UNITED WAY RAISES MORE THAN $170,000 FOR LOCAL RESIDENTS IN NEED DURING 17TH ANNUAL CHEF’S GALA

ORLANDO, FL (June 8, 2009) – More than 20 of Central Florida’s top chefs from the finest dining establishments joined together for the 17th Annual Chef’s Gala benefiting Heart of Florida United Way (HFUW) on Saturday, May 30 at Epcot® World Showplace. The event featured extraordinary food, fine wines, live music and a dazzling silent auction. More than 900 guests enjoyed the evening, which generated more than $170,000 to benefit local non-profit programs supported by United Way.

“Chef’s Gala 2009 was a success by every measure,” stated Robert H. (Bob) Brown, president and CEO of Heart of Florida United Way. “Business and community volunteers rallied together to ensure the event’s success, not only because they believe in United Way, but also to help address our community’s great and growing need. We sincerely appreciate their support.”

Now in its 17th year, Chef’s Gala has grown to become Central Florida’s premiere fine dining and wine pairing charity event. The following establishments participated in Chef’s Gala 2009:

Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
The Capital Grille
Cítricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
Fiorella’s Cucina Toscana at Westin Imagine
Flying Fish Café at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort
Funky Monkey Wine Company
The Garden Grill at Epcot®
Greenside’s Restaurant at Harmony Golf Preserve
The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™
Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort
NORMAN’S at The Ritz-Carlton Orlando
Primo at Grande Lakes Orlando
Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant
Sanaa at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
Todd English’s bluezoo
Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at MAGIC KINGDOM® Park
Tusker House Restaurant at DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM® Theme Park
Urban Flats® Flatbread and Wine Co.
The Wave at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
American Brownie Co.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ Bakery
Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Bakery
Royal Plaza Hotel
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company
Volcano’s Coffee Bar & Roastery

In addition to offering Central Floridians a unique food and wine experience, Chef’s Gala also helps provide critical assistance to the nearly 200 local health and human service programs supported by Heart of Florida United Way.

Funds raised at Chef’s Gala help serve more than 376,000 people in Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties.

WALT DISNEY WORLD® has served as host and sponsor of the event since its inception. Through Disney’s outstanding support, more than $1 million dollars have been raised for programs that serve the most vulnerable Central Floridians. Other 2009 sponsors included: Bright House Networks, OUC–The Reliable One, Harriett & Hy Lake, Smart City, Baker & Hostetler LLP, Deloitte, Fifth Third Bank, General Dynamics, JCPenney, L3Communications, Progress Energy, University of Central Florida, UPS, WFTV 9 FAMILY CONNECTION, Orlando Home & Leisure, Orlando Magazine, Orange Appeal, Winter Park Magazine, Smooth 103.1 WLOQ, Perfect Sky Productions and Pixel 1080.

The event co–chairs for the third year in a row were Chris Fenger, President of Bright House Networks Central Florida Division, and Roseann Harrington, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Community Relations for OUC–The Reliable One.

For more information about Chef’s Gala and Heart of Florida United Way, please visit www.hfuw.org or call 407-835-0900.