FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 6, 2009

Sue Ann Scharón
Marketing and Communications Manager
Phone: 954-923-4000    Fax: 954-923-8737
Email: sueann@hollywoodchamber.org

Hollywood Chamber of Commerce's Grapes for Grades Helps Raise Money for Local High School Students
Event Set for October 2, 2009

HOLLYWOOD, FL –Join the Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for the ultimate grape experience served with a side dish of Hollywood – Grapes For Grades. The fundraising event, now in its 7th year, will take place on Friday, October 2nd from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Hollywood Beach Marriott (2501 N. Ocean Drive). This upscale evening includes wine tasting, gourmet food, jazz, a silent auction and a raffle drawing for a luxury 10-day Mediterranean cruise.

Proceeds from Grapes will go to benefit the Hollywood Florida Scholarship Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization which has been providing college scholarships to deserving high school seniors from local Hollywood high schools since 1964.

"In the course of one's' life, there are countless blessings for which to be grateful. Your generosity and beneficence has given more than what any amount of money can buy. You have given me the chance to dream and to make those dreams come true," says Arti, a Hollywood Florida Scholarship Foundation award recipient.

Don't forget the evening culminates with the announcement of our winner of the Regent 10-day Mediterranean cruise! The lucky winner will depart from Monte Carlo and coast their way to Venice on the all-suite, all-balcony, all-inclusive Regent Seven Seas Mariner. The trip includes a fabulous itinerary with stops in France, Italy, Sicily and Greece (airfare and gratuities are included, but port and airport taxes, and surcharges are to be provided by winner). The cruise getaway is valued at $18,000 but raffle tickets are on sale now for only $100 each!

"The $100 we spent on the raffle ticket was the best $100 we've ever spent," says Dori Lynn Neuwirth of Atlantic Sands, 2005 Oceania cruise winner.

"A $13,000 first-class Mediterranean cruise - with a balcony view no less - for the price of a nice dinner out. You can't beat that! If we hadn't won, we still would have been happy to donate the money to such a worthy cause. We plan to buy a couple more tickets this year."

Since its inception, the Grapes for Grades has raised over $147,000 for the Hollywood Florida Scholarship Foundation.

Special thanks to the event’s presenting sponsors the Community Redevelopment Agencies – Beach and Downtown Districts, the Hollywood Beach Marriott, Cohen & Owens, PA and the Hollywood Police Department.

Support the cause and become a sponsor! Sponsorship opportunities are available. Donations will also be accepted.

Tickets are on sale now! They are $60 pre-event and $70 at the door. You can also purchase the Wine & Dine Deal for only $200, which includes two event tickets and one raffle ticket.

Event and raffle tickets can be purchased at the Chamber building (330 N. Federal Highway) or online at www.hollywoodchamber.org.

For more information, e-mail Sue Ann Scharon at sueann@hollywoodchamber.org or call 954.923.4000, ext. 14.

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