2009 Celebration of Hope Event, Benefiting The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida, is Smashing Success.

SARASOTA, FL - October 27, 2009 - Nearly 350 supporters packed the ballroom at Michael's On East for The Wellness Community of Southwest Florida's (TWC) recent 2009 Celebration of Hope Sarasota event. The high-energy event successfully raised over $40,000 for the non-profit organization.

Richard (Dick) Gravino and Scott A. Tetreault, M.D., were honored during the evening with the 2009 Stephen H. Goldman, M.D. Keystone Award. Gravino is a Longboat Key resident, retired financial executive and past Commodore of the Sarasota Yacht Club. Tetreault is a medical oncologist with Florida Cancer Specialists; that group was also the event's lead sponsor.

Both gentlemen had large cheering sections present at the event and were eloquent in their acceptance speeches. "This evening was a huge success by all measurements, and the honorees are so deserving," said Jay Lockaby, TWC's Executive Director. "Dick's leadership in getting the Sarasota Yacht Club involved with The Wellness Community and Scott's devotion to both his patients and his employees was so apparent. The award winners' speeches were moving testimonials to The Wellness Community's importance in the care of people affected by cancer. Florida Cancer Specialists really stepped up to the plate and this spectacular event would not have been possible without their generous support."

Honorary Chair Suzanne Zaccone, author, breast cancer survivor, and speaker, shared her cancer experience with a talk full of laughter and emotion, providing the audience both entertainment and a moving testimonial to the importance of the services of The Wellness Community. Zaccone's book "A Random Interruption: Surviving Breast Cancer with Laughter, Vodka, Smoothies and an Attitude" is being published by Xlibris and is available at barnesandnoble.com and amazon.com.

Heidi Godman, Medial Director, ABC Channel 7, emceed the event which included a small auction and a chance drawing for a painting by local artist Lori Frary of the Rosemary District's Frary Gallery. The painting, entitled "Faith Surrounded by Hope," was commissioned specifically for the event by Dave and Kate Shaver. Dave currently serves on the Board of Trustees for The Wellness Community. The lucky winning bidder was Joe Derezinski of Harris Bank in Chicago, who flew in to Sarasota to attend.

Another one-of-a-kind lingerie item was the "Life is a Bra of Cherries" bra. The Cherry Bra was initially introduced at another event by Charlie Ann Syprett. Syprett is a Member of the Board of Trustees for The Wellness Community and also served as the Celebration of Hope event co-chairman. Danielle Kantor, a TWC volunteer, came up with the novel concept "Sisterhood of the Traveling Bra." The bra will now "travel" to various TWC events to be auctioned to raise funds. On November 6th, the bra will be at the Sarasota Yacht Club Invitational Regatta's "Make a Mark" Celebration benefiting TWC, and then it's on to TWC's annual Flight of Hope event next March.

The centerpieces used at the event were created and donated by "Nature Connections," The Wellness Community's horticulture therapy group. Horticulture therapy is both a classic stress management activity and a newly evolving technique of general recovery from physical challenges. The attractive centerpieces were sold at the event to raise additional funds.

Finally, an exciting announcement about The Wellness Community Building Hope Capital campaign was made. The crowd was informed that together with a generous early major gift from Dr. Alan Porter and new gifts from Florida Cancer Specialists, TWC is halfway to its $250,000 goal for the "Ask the Doctor" room in the new building.

For more information on The Wellness Community, please contact Jay Lockaby at (941) 924-8740 or jay@wellness-swfl.org. For more information on the "Make A Mark" celebration, please contact the Sarasota Yacht Club at 365-4191 or at www.sarasotayachtclub.org.

About The Wellness Community:
The Wellness Community (TWC) is a not-for-profit organization that provides support, education and hope for people affected by cancer, empowering them to fight for recovery and improve the quality of their lives. TWC programs are held in a home-like facility where participants and their loved ones can meet other participants and share coping mechanisms. With the guidance and support of licensed therapists, participants learn to become actively involved in their recovery.

Our programs are funded entirely by philanthropic contributions and grants. There is no charge for any services provided by TWC. Since 1996, more than 8,500 individuals have made more than 50,000 visits to TWC in Sarasota and at satellite locations in the area.

Those who utilize TWC programs join thousands of others in 26 cities in the U.S., Tel Aviv, and Tokyo and through the Virtual Wellness Community at www.TheWellnessCommunity.org. More than 400 physicians serve on professional advisory boards and more than 1,000 physicians regularly refer their patients to TWC.