Special thanks to our 2008 Chef's Gala sponors and to our host and sponsor  WALT DISNEY WORLD®.   Chef’s Gala A Sell-Out -- Raises $208,000 The first-ever sell-out crowd, fabulous food and wine, and tremendous support from many community partners helped make the 2008 Chef’s Gala the most successful benefit in the event’s 16-year history for Heart of Florida United Way. A new record of more than $208,000 was generated by the April 5 event attended by more than 1,300 guests – the largest number ever. The benefit has been hosted and sponsored by WALT DISNEY WORLD® since its inception. Held at the Epcot® World Showplace Pavilion, the 16th Annual Chef’s Gala featured extraordinary food and wine pairings presented by 26 of the region’s top dining establishments. Other highlights included a champagne reception, a silent auction and live jazz. More than 140 items, ranging from fine art and jewelry to sporting event tickets and travel packages, brought in nearly $35,000 in silent auction bids. Chef’s Gala is the final and single-largest fundraising event of HFUW’s annual campaign, which concludes April 30.  For the second year in a row it was co-chaired by 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. Together they recruited 26 prominent local leaders to serve on the host committee. Very special thanks to Walt Disney World and to the chefs, sponsors, host committee and volunteers who made this the most successful Chef’s Gala in history.    2008 Participating Establishments: American Brownie Co. Artist Point at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Biergarten Restaurant at Epcot® Boatwright’s Dining Hall at Disney’s Port Orleans Resort–Riverside Citricos at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Disney's Hollywood Studios™ Bakery Dux at The Peabody Orlando Epcot Bakery Funky Monkey Wine Company Greenside’s Restaurant at Harmony Golf Preserve Hemingway’s at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress The Hollywood Brown Derby at Disney’s Hollywood Studios™ Jiko – The Cooking Place at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge Kona Cafe at Disney’s Polynesian Resort La Coquina Chef’s Table at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Nine 18 at The Villas at Grand Cypress Primo at Grande Lakes Orlando Raglan Road Irish Pub and Restaurant The Ravenous Pig Royal Plaza Hotel Spoodles at Disney's BoardWalk Resort Todd English’s bluezoo Tony’s Town Square Restaurant at MAGIC KINGDOM® Park Tusker House Restaurant at DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM® Theme Park Joffery's Coffee & Tea Company Volcano's Coffee Bar & Roastery Desserts American Brownie Co. Disney’s Hollywood Studios Bakery Epcot® Bakery Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company Volcano’s Coffee Bar & Roastery The 16th annual Chef’s Gala benefiting Heart of Florida United Way supports nearly 100 local charities and nearly 200 health and human service programs.