This event, which has had increased popularity every year, is one of the largest fund raisers in Cape Coral and supports The Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida.
"The first year we held the event Rumrunners had just opened," Johnson said. "My restaurant partner had cancer and he was struggling with chemotherapy and radiation. While he was recovering in the hospital, Frank Haskell and Jimmy Roberts came into the hospital to talk about Barbara's Friends - they asked if they could do an event partnering and team up for fund raising. They wanted to do a celebrity waiter event with a sit-down dinner. We felt we could step it up by bringing in well-known local chefs to cook in the dining room at the event. The event flows so that there are no restrictions on time and people can come and go as they please, visiting each chef's table in a casual environment.
"We had to postpone the first year because of Hurricane Charley. Even with the postponement in the summertime in Southwest Florida, the event brought in $35,000. Last year, we shattered the previous amount of $50,000 by raising $86,000. This year was $135,000. The difference between our fund raiser and many others is that we don't bring in more people each year and have many of the same attendees every year. It's because every year the generosity becomes stronger. Every year we limit it to 300 people and are sold out, with the exception of the first year when only 200 came because of the postponement due to Hurricane Charley. Without advertising, we have the same 200 people each year because it is an event for a good cause that if fun and enjoyable with incredible food from the celebrity chefs.
