February 12, 2008

Peninsular Club hosts 230 guests, chefs’ auction and raffle to benefit Parkinson disease research at Van Andel Institute

Grand Rapids, MI (February 12, 2008) – The Winterfest Celebration hosted by the Peninsular Club on February 7, 2008 raised over $65,000 to benefit Parkinson research at Van Andel Institute.

230 guests enjoyed a cocktail reception with beverages from Pauly’s Wine & Spirits and PRP Wines; nine food stations with cuisine prepared by chefs from Amway Grand Plaza, Bar Divani, The Chop House, Thornapple Daily Grill, The Green Well Gastro Pub, Kathleen & Company, the Peninsular Club, San Chez Bistro, and Six.One.Six; and live entertainment by Grand Rapids blues man Jimmie Stagger and Kevin Paul of Mid-Life Crisis. A live auction with gourmet meal and wine tasting packages and a raffle for an 18kyg woven collar necklace from Preusser Jewelers raised $26,000. The event was emceed by 97 LAV radio personality Tony Gates.

Event sponsors included Armada Group, Bank of Holland, Crowe Chizek, Grand Rapids Business Journal, Macatawa Bank, MARSH USA Inc., Miller Johnson, Preusser Jewelers, Regal Financial Group LLC, Root-Lowell Manufacturing Company, Varnum, Riddering, Schmidt & Howlett LLP, Warner, Norcross & Judd, and WOOD TV8.

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Established by Jay and Betty Van Andel  in 1996, Van Andel Institute is an independent research organization dedicated to preserving, enhancing and expanding the frontiers of medical science, and to achieving excellence in education by probing fundamental issues of education and the learning process.