Numerous fundraising and awareness events are held each year. Please get involved with us throughout 2010 and 2011:

UPCOMING EVENT:

VIBE has established an on-going relationship with CORE™
(Children of Restaurant Employees)

Children of Restaurant Employees, Ltd., (CORE™) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with benefactors from the hospitality operator and supplier industries providing special support to children of restaurant employees.

Founded in 2004, CORE™ has raised in excess of $500,000 from food and beverage suppliers and hospitality operators and those dollars have granted support to 15 wonderful and deserving children!

At the 2011 VIBE Conference there will be a Silent and LIVE Auction Fund-raiser  on Wednesday, March 9, 2011.  All proceeds and donations will support the efforts of CORE™.A display of unique Silent Auction items will be available throughout Wednesday afternoon for bid.  Silent Auction winners will be announced at the same time the LIVE Auction begins during the VIBE Retro Revival Happy Hour.  With great excitement, we announce that Super Bowl XXXV Champion (former Baltimore Raven) and FOX NFL Analyst, Tony Siragusa "Goose" will host the Live Auction.  Tony is also a second generation restaurateur and, as such, is a strong supporter of CORE.  He is providing some very valuable packages and prizes for Live Auction bid.  Anyone who knows Tony or watches him on FOX NFL knows how much fun this Retro Revival Happy Hour and Auction event will be, while we raise money for a cause as worthy as CORE.  Please visit the CORE site at www.coregives.org.  VIBE believes in the mission of CORE and will continue to help support this organization. We hope you will become an active member and contributor to CORE as well. 

Debi Dorfman (CORE's Project Manager) Interview with VIBE

VIBE: What is CORE?
Debi Dorfman: CORE is a food and beverage industry funded 501C3 charity for Children of Restaurant Employees. One-hundred percent of the funds raised from operators, food and beverage suppliers and distributors are used towards children of our industry’s workforce.

VIBE: How did it get started?
Debi Dorfman: CORE was founded in 2004 at an after-dinner gathering of a handful of operators and suppliers at the NRA Show. The group was discussing the numerous and diverse charities always hounding for support…and not a one was to support or give back to the community (often hired as part-timers) of hospitality workers that make the industry tick. Out of that discussion came the vision to create a charitable organization that reaches children of restaurant employees diagnosed with severe medical conditions, helping them achieve dreams and enjoyment in the midst of a heartbreaking journey.

VIBE: How has it grown?
Debi Dorfman: CORE started with a handful of donations from beverage alcohol suppliers and quickly gained additional donors from restaurant, concessions and lodging operators, food and beverage suppliers and distributors. In the five years since operation began, CORE has raised in excess of $600,000 for the children.

VIBE: How are funds raised?
Debi Dorfman: CORE hosts an annual dinner where operators, suppliers and distributors who support CORE are recognized. Funds are also raised at Dave Mason concerts, a CORE golf tournament in Aspen at the Food and Wine Festival and at other unique gatherings held by suppliers [with] many donating to CORE in lieu of welcome gifts, etc.

VIBE: How are they used?
Debi Dorfman: CORE takes referrals and applications for support of children, on a case by case basis, via www.coregives.org. The CORE charter allows for funds to be used grant “dreams” for children of restaurant employees who are stricken with life-threatening circumstances. Each request is evaluated by the CORE Board of Directors, and if chosen, each candidate is assigned an “uncle” or “aunt” from the Board to facilitate the logistics, secure supplemental support and communicate with the family and recipient.

VIBE: How many people has CORE helped?
Debi Dorfman: CORE has helped 13 children of restaurant employees over the past five years. Everything from helping a young girl achieve her dream of cooking with Emeril [Lagasse] to providing the logistics for a young boy to travel to see his grandparents before another life-threatening surgery.

VIBE: What is CORE doing at the VIBE Conference this year? 
Debi Dorfman: CORE is thrilled to have been selected by VIBE as an industry cause for this year’s conference. Sharon, Bruce, Laddie and the entire VIBE staff have been very generous with their time and involvement to ensure that the message of CORE continues to be spread throughout the industry not just with regards to raising money, but with the hospitality operators to drive qualified support requests to CORE.

VIBE has invited CORE to conduct a silent auction of beverage-related valuable product and experiences, as well as providing a forum for conducting a “live” auction of goods and services. The master of ceremonies will be none other than Tony Sirigusa, FOX TV Football analyst and former Baltimore Raven Super Bowl Champion.

VIBE: How will CORE benefit VIBE and vice versa?
Debi Dorfman: Any opportunity, especially at the prestigious VIBE Conference, to spread the word about CORE helps support the Children of Restaurant Employees. For VIBE, we trust that having CORE involved gives them a sense of purpose in supporting an industry galvanizing charity and a lot of fun at the Conference!

VIBE: What is CORE’s ultimate goal by attending VIBE this year?
Debi Dorfman: The number one goal will be to spread the word of the mission and then hopefully raise a lot of money for the children!

VIBE: Is there anything else you’d like to add about CORE, the VIBE Conference and/or the future plans for CORE?
Debi Dorfman: The CORE and VIBE alliance — the exposure, the fund raising and the resulting support of Children of Restaurant Employees — is going to be the start of a great chapter in the growth of CORE. Thank you, VIBE!

For more information about the 2011 VIBE Conference please see

www.ncbshow.com/vibeconference/welcome-vibe

PREVIOUS EVENT:

CORE™ a night of giving

The spectacular new Bacardi USA Headquarters in Coral Gables, FL provided the backdrop for a memorable night of camaraderie, inspiration and giving. A group of beverage, restaurant, entertainment and hotel industry executives assembled on September 9th to unite in giving back to the industry through their support of Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE™), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit charity established in 2004 to assist children of restaurant industry employees who have been stricken with life threatening conditions.

The gathering provided the CORE™ board an opportunity to update attendees on the group’s efforts over the past year as well, with members of the board detailing the five grants that CORE has funded in the past year, ranging from the creation of a trust fund for the children of a chain restaurant employee who was tragically killed to providing for a trip for the seriously ill children of another restaurant employee to see their grandparents.

Of course, the evening would not have been complete without catching up with old friends, making new ones, and enjoying each other’s company. Given the aforementioned generosity and hospitality of Bacardi, this was an easy mission. Another easy and most impressive task was raising over $40,000 that will be used to support the group’s future endeavors.

The Board of CORE ™ would like to wholeheartedly thank everyone who attended and contributed so selflessly your time and financial support. It is because of you we are able to ensure our mission will continue well into the future.I would also like to remind everyone reading this that you can still help by doing one or more of the following:

• Spread the word about CORE™ internally within your company
• Talk about CORE™ with customers, clients and associates
• Refer potential candidates for support to www.coregives.org
• Galvanize your charitable support around a worthy cause for the people who support us every day!

    
Man on a Mission

In addition to the wonderful hospitality provided by the Bacardi team, the evening was highlighted by a presentation from Paul Avery, former OSI leader, about his very personal and passionate support of the Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance (FARA), and it’s mission to find treatments and a cure for Friedreich’s ataxia. As part of its support of the industry’s kids, CORE is proud to be a monetary contributor to Paul’s efforts to find a cure for this debilitating condition. Paul’s enthusiasm and energy are contagious, and all of the attendees were moved and inspired as he recounted his efforts.

Paul Avery has been a long time friend to many in the hospitality industry and recently retired as Chief Operating Officer of OSI Restaurant Partners, LLC. He is presently serving on the board of FARA (Friedreich’s Ataxia Research Alliance) and tirelessly participates in events around the country in an effort to increase awareness of this terrible disease while raising money to help find a cure. CORE Gives donated a check to Paul and FARA to show its support to one of the true leaders in our industry as he continues his mission. We wish him continued success in his fight against Friedreich’s Ataxia. 

CORE™ Board Shines a Light on Giving Back

Children of Restaurant Employees, Ltd., (CORE™) is a non-profit organization with benefactors from the hospitality operator and supplier industries providing special support to children of restaurant employees and their families. Founded in 2004, CORE™ has raised in excess of $500,000 from food and beverage suppliers and hospitality operators. Those dollars have granted support to over 22 precious and deserving children. 100% of the monies raised through sponsorship goes to those in need.

CORE™ Featured Sponsor

The CORE™ Board extends a heartfelt thank you to the  excellent team at Bacardi for hosting our yearly event at their stunning new headquarters in Coral Gables, FL. 

Bacardi U.S.A. Inc. is the import sales and marketing arm of one of the world’s leading wine and spirits producers. www.Bacardi.com

CORE™ Supportors

CORE is proud of the involvement and support of individuals and companies from all aspects of the hospitality industry and wish to thank those who made our 2010 fundraising reception and dinner hosted by Bacardi such a success: