Gourmet Food Tasting Event to Feature Cream of Local Culinary Crop

DENVER, Colo., Sept. 29, 2005/The March of Dimes today announced that tickets are now on sale for Signature Chefs, its gourmet food sampling event. The evening offers the cream of the local culinary crop serving in person their delicious delights. Also on the menu are entertainment and an auction of dining, recreation, hospitality, travel and other packages.

March of Dimes Signature Chefs will be held on Tuesday, October 11 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at the Omni Interlocken Resort. Individual tickets are $150 and sponsorships begin at $1500. Opportunities for in-kind donations also exist. Those interested are invited to call the March of Dimes at (303) 692-0011 or visit http://www.marchofdimes.com/colorado.

Chefs signed up to date to put their mark on Signature Chefs include: Scott Baptist /Village Tavern; Abdellah Benhadou/Mataam Fez; Corey Buck/John’s Restaurant; Will Chinworth/Meritage; Daniel Cofrades/Trattoria on Pearl; Scott Durrah/Eight Rivers; Cameron Grant/Laudisio’s Italian Restaurant; David Harker/O’s at the Westin; Matthew Jansen/Mateo; Mara King/Sushi Mara; Ed Lilley/Zolo Grill; Andrew Marx/The Greenbriar Inn; Chris Pierce/Magnolia; Nick Roberts/Aji; Thomas Roberts/Bloom; Hosea Rosenberg/Jax Fish House; and, Tracy Webb/The Rib House.

Proceeds from Signature Chefs benefit the March of Dimes and its efforts to improve the health of babies. A key initiative is addressing prematurity, the leading killer of newborns in Colorado and nationwide. The March of Dimes carries out its mission through research, community services, education and advocacy. Currently in Colorado, the group funds nearly $1.4 million in healthy-baby programs.

The volunteer chair of March of Dimes Signature Chefs is Richard Maxfield, regional vice president of Omni Hotels. Becky Taylor of radio station Smooth Jazz 104.3 will serve as emcee. Smooth Jazz is an event sponsor, along with the Omni Interlocken Resort. Two other Colorado communities are scheduled to host March of Dimes Signature Chefs events this year: Denver (on Wednesday, October 26) and Colorado Springs (on Thursday, November 3).

Founded in 1938, the March of Dimes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. More information may be obtained at http://www.marchofdimes.com (English) and http://www.nacersano.org (Spanish).

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Media contact:

Becky Herlinger

March of Dimes

(303) 692-0011

bherlinger@marchofdimes.com