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Fundraiser Was A Fountain Of Fun

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By LOIS KINDLE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 27, 2007

RUSKIN - As Marion Strazz noshed on pork and sauerkraut and a small piece of cheesecake for dessert, hundreds of others were sampling shrimp salad, seared tuna appetizers, homemade soups, paella and cabernet.

The food Strazz was eating was served during the second annual Taste of South Shore, which attracted more than 400 people to The Resort & Club at Little Harbor. They paid $20 each to support Mary and Martha House, a shelter in Ruskin for battered women and their children. Organizers said the event raised about $8,000.

'This is excellent,' Strazz said. 'I was invited by my friend Anne Marie Podgurski, who serves on the Mary and Martha House board. I'm glad to support the charity, and I love food.'

Others concurred.

'I'm amazed at the quality of the food,' said Mary Anne Wilhelm of Ruskin. 'Everything's awesome. I'm going back for seconds.'

Melanie Cureton, general manager for Village Inn, handed out samples of the restaurant's pies.

'It's an awesome event for a very good cause,' she said.

'I'd say it was a tremendous success,' said Laurie Kepler, executive director for Mary and Martha House. 'This year, we expanded the seating, which everyone seemed to appreciate, and we sold more tickets than last year.'

Kepler added that proceeds from the event, which is one of the charity's largest annual fundraisers, will go directly to support the shelter's operational costs, including utilities, lawn care, general maintenance and client services.

Preparation for the event began in May when a committee of five - Kepler and Molly Ford, a staff member at the Mary and Martha House, and facility board members Jan Falcione, Neal Desch and Podgurski - put together a plan and started approaching potential vendors.

'It's a fabulous opportunity for local restaurants to showcase their specialties and, at the same time, a wonderful way for the community to enjoy an evening of food, wine and live entertainment in support of a good cause,' Falcione said.

In addition to Village Inn, other businesses that gave out free tastes included Beanie's Family Sports Grill; Dinners Ready; Southern Comfort Bed and Breakfast Resort; CJ's Deli & Cafe; WineStyles; The Resort & Club at Little Harbor; Old Castle Tavern German restaurant; Mango Joe's South Shore; Sumatra Coffee; Copper Penny restaurant; Florida Wine Connection, AJ's Catering and Domino's Pizza.

Reporter Lois Kindle can be reached at (813) 865-1553 or lkindle@tampatrib.com.

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