Landon Outreach Chills Under the Stars for a Cause

Written by Dara Tucker Saturday, 05 June 2010 19:48

May 2010

On Saturday, May 8, The Trinity Professional Center was transformed into an outdoor lounge the likes of which never seen before in Trinity.  The Landon Outreach Foundation, known for combining fun while helping the community, created an outdoor oasis for the Chill Under the Stars event, which included comfortable chairs and lounging areas flanked by flowing draperies with carpet underfoot.  Delectable food from Grille 54, desserts, drinks, an espresso bar and a fine selection of cigars surrounded and tempted attendees.  Live entertainment played throughout the night, including a live band, a live auction, a “bikini martini” model poised in an enormous martini glass, and a couple of dancers in large bubbles who danced around the lounge area.  In addition to the wines and drinks available to purchase, there was a Martini Madness Shakedown where guests sampled ten different martinis created by themed teams, and voted for the best exotic and dessert martinis of the night.

The Landon Outreach Foundation, Inc. was created in 2009 by Dr. Bruce Landon and the staff of Landon Plastic Surgery, located in The Trinity Professional Center in Trinity across from Sweetbay.  The foundation is passionately committed to assisting individuals and families in need through financial assistance, community service and food distribution in the local community as well as globally.  In the past they have raised money through a large community garage sale, Cookies for Kids, and their yearly Busting for a Cure event.  Funds raised have been donated to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for a Cure and Haitian Relief, have provided Thanksgiving food baskets for local schools to provide needy families, and adopted families at Christmas with gas cards, food cards and toys, as well as the Ariel Goldman Holiday Giving Program.  Proceeds from Chill Under the Stars and The Martini Madness Shakedown are going to provide backpacks filled with supplies and family hygiene kits for needy students in Pasco County High Schools. 

Ellen Zellinger, Officer of Landon Outreach Foundation, Inc., says, “We contacted Pasco County Schools to identify and address students’ needs in our area, and how we can meet them.  Many families are living paycheck to paycheck right now, and can’t afford to buy school supplies and pay the mortgage or rent.  High school is a critical age for students.  Having good hygiene and supplies affects their self-esteem.  In addition to helping Pasco County schools, we look forward to helping many others in the community as well.” 

These worthy causes make a direct impact in our community, and to have fun while supporting them makes the night even more enjoyable.  I met Sue Livingstone of New Port Richey in the Martini Madness section of the lounge.  Sue’s sister had breast cancer, and she started supporting The Landon Foundation through the Busting for a Cure event.  Sue says, “This is wonderful to have [Dr.] Landon do all of these wonderful things for the community.  The outreach programs are for all things I want to support.”   

Her friend Suze Shaffer joined her from Palm Harbor at Chill Under the Stars, and agreed, “It’s a really good mix of having fun, while knowing you’re doing something helpful.”

And fun the night was!  When first entering the Chill Under the Stars event, guests received a paper with the names of each of the martini samples in order.  In each tent teams of four members created and competed for best exotic and dessert martinis of the night.  Teams were often sponsored by local businesses, and were fully dressed in themed costumes and decorated tents.  The first tent “French Toast Tickler” was decorated with French paintings, Eiffel Towers, and the mixers (a group of Trinity gals) were dressed in French Maid outfits.  Their drink, which made you wish for a full glass, won for best exotic martini of the night.  The “Divalicious Martini” served up by DeLuca’s Divas exemplified decadence and won the dessert martini category. One of the most unusual entries was the “Novocaine” martini sponsored by Paul R. Miller, DDS, of New Port Richey. The theme was no pain dentistry and their martini left your lips tingly and curious.  Dr. Miller exclaimed, “It’s crazy!  People are coming in fast, and everyone’s having a lot of fun.”

If you missed the Martini Shakedown and Chill Under the Stars event, it’s not too late to still help out the cause.  Grille 54, the co-sponsor of the event, will be serving the two winning martini recipes for the next month.  Fifteen percent of the sales from the winning martinis served will go directly back to the Landon Outreach Foundation.  Additionally, on Monday, May 24, from 5 – 7 p.m., Grille 54 will host a special event during which the winning martini teams, Divalicious and French Toast Tickler, will be celebrity bartenders.  All of their tips will be donated to Landon Outreach Foundation, and there will be an awards presentation to the winning teams. 

Another way to help is by purchasing a backpack or hygiene kit to donate for $30 through Landon Outreach Foundation, Inc.  With the success of Chill Under the Stars, Busting for a Cure is sure to be even bigger and better this year as well.  Mark your calendars now for The Busting for a Cure to benefit the Landon Outreach Foundation and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day on September 2, taking place at Grille 54 this year.

Landon Outreach Foundation, Inc., and the many sponsors of the Chill Under the Stars event, including sponsor Landon Plastic Surgery & The Spa Boutique and co-sponsor Grille 54, are making a positive impact on our community. Other sponsors the Foundation would like to thank include Linsey Eyecare, Coastal Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine, One Stop Pharmacy, Urology Specialists of West Florida, Trinity Neighborhood News, Prestige Magazine, Parveen Vahora, MD, Wollinka & Wollinka, Material Girl II, Spine Center of Excellence, MicBro Audiology, Trinity Regional Rehab, Excel Medical Imaging, Advanced Chiropractic Associates, Saxon Rehab Management, FunInYourTown.com, DeLuca’s Fine Jewelry, Endodontic Associates, Paul Miller, DDS, Melissa Stoddard - Northwestern Mutual, Mike Peters Agency – State Farm, Kim Brust Agency – State Farm, Robert P. Wolfenden DDS, Melissa M. Grimaudo, DMD, Rose Radiology, Haden Reid Boutique.com, Coastal Jaw Surgery, New Image Dermatology, Select Physical Therapy, Shop Best.com, Flowers by Jenny, Sweetbay Supermarkets, Wine Loft and Cigars Direct.com, all of which helped to make Chill Under the Stars spectacular!

The night was filled with fun, the laughter flowed easily, and high school students in our area will benefit from everyone’s generosity.

Landon Outreach Foundation, Inc. is a 501-C3 tax deductable, not-for-profit organization.  To donate, please visit www.landonoutreach.com or call Ellen Zellinger at 376-3999.  Landon Plastic Surgery and The Spa Boutique is located at 1813 Wellness Lane in Trinity.  Grille 54 will be serving the two winning martini recipes this month with fifteen percent of the proceeds going back to the Landon Outreach Foundation.  Grille 54 is located at 10900 SR 54, #105, in Trinity, FL 34655