Take an interactive tour of eight different countries and sample food and wine pairings from each region without ever leaving Vero Beach!  Have your event passport stamped in each of the country stations as you sample delicious hors d’oeuvres and expertly paired wines.  Hibiscus Children’s Center, with the support of event sponsors Wilmington Trust, Vero Beach Yacht Club and Crown Wine and Spirits, will be hosting “Passport to Wine and Dine” on Monday, February 11, 2013 from 5:30pm until 8:30pm at the Vero Beach Yacht Club. Co-chairs for the event include Amy Patterson Reeser, Heather Dean and Laurel Wood Lenker.  The event media sponsor is Charm Magazine and the dessert sponsor is Frosting.  The featured countries and their sponsors include Argentina – Merrijean and Joseph Stalls, Australia – Republican Women Aware, France – Marie and Armund Ek, Germany – Sybille Ludwig and Philip Allen, Italy – Helen Taylor Robertson, New Zealand – Linda and Mel Teetz, Spain – Silvia and Leo Cancio and the United States represented by California – Laurel and Graham Phillips.  Join Hibiscus Children’s Center for a culinary adventure that is sure to be a fun and memorable evening.  All proceeds from the event will help Hibiscus Children’s Center to continue to shelter and support abused, abandoned and neglected children.  Sponsorships are available and donations are always welcome. “Passport to Wine and Dine” is sure to be a sell out event. Tickets are required and the cost is only $75.00 per person.  Tickets can be purchased at Hibiscus Children’s Center, Crown Wine & Spirits in Vero Beach, Frosting, and Vinz Wine Bar. You may also call 772-299-7293 x 310 or x313 to purchase tickets, visit www.HibiscusChildrensCenter.org , the event page on Facebook, or email Veronica Kolibab, Director of Special Events atVKolibab@hcc4kids.org

About Hibiscus Children’s Center:

Hibiscus Children’s Center, founded in 1985 by LaVaughn Tilton, is a non-profit organization serving Martin, Indian River, Okeechobee and St. Lucie counties.  It operates a shelter in Jensen Beach and a village of group homes in Vero Beach.  Hibiscus addresses the problem of abuse, abandonment and neglect, throughout the Treasure Coast, with an expanded Foster Care Program, mental health and substance abuse services, a prevention program to support families in crisis, and services to reduce the number of families entering the dependency court system.  The Hibiscus Children’s Center Thrift Store, in Jensen Beach, was opened in 1997.  All proceeds from the thrift store are used to offset costs for children’s programs.  The children’s shelter, group homes and Foster programs are funded, in part, by United for Families.  An additional $1.5 million must be raised, each year, by the Hibiscus annual campaign, special events, through foundations and local grants to meet overall children’s needs.  Hibiscus is also a United Way affiliated organization.  Hibiscus speakers are available to present to your group or organization.  For more information, please contact us (772) 334-9311, ext. 201 or visit:  HibiscusChildrensCenter.org.