The historic Riverside Hotel's vice president of food & beverage, Peter Schmidt, joined 20 community leaders on October 25th as a celebrity waiter during the 6th annual Breakfast for Champions of the Homeless - a fundraising event benefiting the Broward Partnership for the Homeless (BPHI). Schmidt donned an apron and dished out a traditional American breakfast to members of The Las Olas Company, who were seated at his table.

"Our goal is to participate in as many fundraising events as possible," said Schmidt. "Each year, the Riverside Hotel supports and sponsors the Tour d'Vine (which benefits A Child Is Missing), an annual fundraising gala for the Susan B. Anthony Recovery Center, and the Las Olas Wine & Food Festival's VIP reception (which raises money for the American Lung Association)...just to name a few."

The event began at 7:30 a.m. at the Broward County Central Homeless Assistance Center/ Huizenga Family Campus, 920 NW 7th Avenue, in Fort Lauderdale. Following the meal, Schmidt collected "tip money" that will be donated to assist the organization's mission to provide adequate support and services to Broward County's homeless population.

"I was honored to participate as a celebrity waiter during this year's event. It was a great way to raise money for a worthy cause and give back to the community," added Schmidt.

During a live auction, Barbara Wells, director of The Las Olas Company, got in on the action as she won two box seat tickets for the Barbara Streisand concert scheduled for Saturday, October 28th at the Bank Atlantic Center.

The event, chaired by Roberta Stanley, Esq., is co-sponsored by BPHI and the Downtown Council of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce. The Champion of the Homeless Award recipient for 2006 was presented to Miller, Wiggin & Associates, fee-only certified financial planners based in Fort Lauderdale. The 2006 BPHI Special Recognition Award was presented to The Second Chance Society. Since 2002, Second Chance has provided more than $5,000 directly to BPHI residents to purchase job-related supplies and tools.

Celebrity Waiters:

• Peter Schmidt, Riverside Hotel
  
• Tony Carriuolo, Esq., Berger Singerman, P.A. Attorneys at Law
  
• David Hoskinson, Pediatrix Med Group
  
• Vice Mayor Cindi Hutchinson, Fort Lauderdale City Commission
  
• Melinda Lee, Bank Atlantic Foundation
  
• Ruchel Louis, Successful Images, Inc.
  
• Dennis O'Shea, Stiles Development


"The Pair That Cares" Celebrity Waiters:

• Roberta Stanley, Esq., Brinkley, Morgan, Solomon, Tatum, Stanley, Lunny, Crosby, LLP & Jim Welzien, CPA, Welzien & Company, CPAs, PA
  
• Ali Waldman, Esq. & Ron Bergeron, Sr., Bergeron Development Corporation
  
• Gale Butler & Jim Teufel, Maroone, An AutoNation Company
  
• Charlene Bender, SunTrust & Cy Case, Case Holding Company, Inc. Kitty & Charles Tatelbaum, Adorno & Yoss, LLP
  
• Courtney Crush, Esq., Crush Law, P.A. & Jason S. Crush, Habitat for Humanity of Broward, Inc.