A Dinner Of Hope

TOP CHEFS PREPARE A "DINNER OF HOPE" TO BENEFIT CHILDREN

Gourmet Gala to Fund Creative Heartwork's Healing Arts Programs

Morris Plains, NJ, November 2, 2007 - Nine highly acclaimed chefs from around the country will gather on November 2 at the Pleasantdale Chateau in West Orange to prepare a meal that is fit for a king and filled with hope.

The 13th annual Dinner of Hope will be held at The Pleasantdale Chateau on Friday, November 2, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. The gala will benefit Creative Heartwork, Inc., a nonprofit healing arts organization for children based in Morris Plains, NJ. This year's participating chefs will include Robert McCormick of the Daniel Boulud Brassiere, Wynn, Las Vegas; Richard Kennedy of the Hilton Short Hills, Short Hills, NJ; Paul Murray of Infusion, Charleston, SC; Angela Tardibuono of Eqqus, Castle on the Hudson, Tarrytown, NY; Mitchell Altholz, Highlawn Pavillion, West Orange, NJ; Maurice Alameda, Chef de Cuisine, Pleasantdale Chateau, West Orange, NJ; Ike Koutrakos of the Hotel Plaza Athnee, New York, NY; Corey Heyer of the Bernards Inn, Bernardsville, NJ; and Terri Baldwin, Wine Sommelier from the Bernards Inn, Bernardsville, NJ.

Each of the gourmet dinner's seven courses-from hors d'oeuvres to dessert-will be accompanied by a fine wine specially selected by the chefs and Bernards Inn Wine Director and Sommelier Terri Baldwin.

"We're really excited about this year's culinary cast," notes Karen Carbonello, president of Creative Heartwork, "and we have some amazing artwork created by the children in our programs that will be made available for purchase during the silent auction."

Creative Heartwork will also present its 2007 "World of Difference Award" to The Robert Wood Johnson foundation. Their grant has allowed the agency to expand its services to minority children from Morris and Essex counties who have experienced trauma or serious illness.



Other highlights of the evening will include musical entertainment provided by the New Philharmonic of New Jersey, and a wide variety of slient auction items to bid on including jewelry, dining and travel experiences, designer items and great evenings out at shows, sporting events and more.

The Pleasantdale Chateau (www.pleasantdalechateau.com) serves as a stunning backdrop for the "Dinner of Hope." Built in the 1920s, the estate is situated on 40 acres of formal gardens, rolling lawns and picturesque ponds. Guest will enjoy their dinners in the octagonal shaped Grand Ballroom underneath the vaulted ceiling which is capped by a glass dome.

Since its inception, "A Dinner of Hope" has raised more than $3.5 million for children's charities. The culinary event was awarded the prestigious Humanitarian of the Year Award in 1998 from the New Jersey Restaurant Association.

For questions or to make reservations, call 973-889-0809. Sponsorship reservations begin at $1,000 per person.



About the beneficiary: Creative Heartwork, Inc. is a non-profit organization that utilizes the power of the arts to heal children who have experienced trauma, loss, serious illness or disabilities. Its mission is to improve the lives of children experiencing the often painful challenges of serious illness, disability, separation, poverty, abuse, or neglect. By providing healing programs utilizing the visual and performing art or culinary arts, or other creative means, the programs provide the opportunity for children to reframe their experiences, channel their emotions, enhance resiliency, experience pride in their accomplishments, promote self-esteem, and encourage positive, healthy adjustment to circumstances beyond their control.

For more information on Creative Heartwork, visit www.creativeheartwork.org or call 973-889-0809.