Press

November 15, 2007
Barona's Vice Chairman Charles "Beaver" Curo and Sally B. Thornton Celebrate the Splendor of America at Gingerbread City 2007

SAN DIEGO – (Nov. 15, 2007) On Wednesday, November 28, 2007 celebrate a glorious evening as Gingerbread City 2007 kicks off the holiday season with the 14th annual nationally recognized  Gingerbread Design Competition; this year themed "America the Beautiful".

Join Chairman Sally B. Thornton and the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County as they honor Vice Chairman Charles "Beaver" Curo of the Barona Band of Mission Indians, at The US Grant, and enjoy holiday music, complimentary champagne and wine, desserts, auctions, gorgeous displays of gingerbread art and savory delicacies prepared by chefs from San Diego's top restaurants, including Baleen, Barona Valley Ranch, Bertand at Mister A's, Blue Point Coastal, Café Champagne, La Bastide Bistro, Laurel, The Marine Room, Opera Patisserie, Pacifica Del Mar, Sambussa Factory, Terra, The US Grant, and Torreyana Grille..

Gingerbread Chefs will model creations to represent their idea of "America the Beautiful" along with the return of Traditional Structures. This year's exciting competition includes works by: Loic Laffargue of Barona Valley Ranch Resort & Casino, Thierry Cahez of Opera Patisserie, Chef Lisa of Ikea, Gary Thompson of Viejas Resort & Casino, Patrick Heymann of Loews Coronado Bay Resort, Andrea Nuñez of Roy's of La Jolla, Noni Ngor Van of Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines, Christian Graves of JSIX, Pamela Bartram all the way from Seattle, and many more!

Gingerbread structures will be judged prior to the gala with the winners announced at Gingerbread City. This year's competition excitement is increased by two categories – a traditional gingerbread structure category and a themed structure category. CASH prizes for this year's competition ($1,000 grand prize and $500 runner up) will be awarded in each category.

Tickets are priced from $250 per person to $10,000 for a Chairman's Golden Circle table for ten.

All proceeds benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County, which offers free services to more than 30,000 people with epilepsy. Last year's event netted over $200,000 for the Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County (including a generous gift from Supervisor Pam Slater-Price and the County Board of Supervisors).

One in every one-hundred people in America has epilepsy – that's 30,000 San Diegans; and one-third of the 125,000 new cases each year begin in childhood.  The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County is dedicated to the prevention and control of seizure disorders, the alleviation of negative effects caused by such and the assurance of optimal quality of life for people experiencing these disorders.  Since 1954, The Epilepsy Foundation of San Diego County has actively helped families overcome the problems associated with this condition by providing personal counseling, education and a variety of supportive services free of charge.

Gingerbread City 2007 is sponsored in part by Supervisor Slater-Price and the County Board of Supervisors, Thornton Winery, The US Grant, IGT, Barona, Sycuan, KPBS, Neyenesch Printers, California Bank & Trust, Cyberonics, Impax Pharmaceuticals, San Diego Firefighters Local 145, Westfield UTC, and others. For tickets, information, or to enter a gingerbread structure in the competition call (619) 296-0161 or visit www.epilepsysandiego.org.

PRESS OPPORTUNITIES

• GINGERBREAD STRUCTURE LOAD-IN AND JUDGING
  Wednesday, November 28, 2007, Call for Times
  At The US Grant, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  Gingerbread Artists will be bringing in their houses for the competition and putting the finishing touches on their amazing creations.

• GINGERBREAD CITY SET-UP
  Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 2:00 – 5:00 PM
  At The US Grant, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  30+ Volunteers will be busily working to set-up the room, houses will be on display, celebrity chefs will arrive & tables will be decorated.

• GINGERBREAD CITY EVENT!
  Wednesday, November 28, 2007, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
  At The US Grant, 326 Broadway, San Diego, CA 92101
  400 guests will arrive to view the Gingerbread Houses and taste the delicacies prepared by Celebrity Chefs from around San Diego!

• INTERVIEWS WITH GINGERBREAD ARTISTS & CELEBRITY CHEFS
  Ongoing
  Call (619) 296-0178 to set-up an interview with one of the Gingerbread Artists or Celebrity Chefs. They will invite you into their home, restaurant, or pastry shop to watch their creations "under construction". Chefs will also be available for follow-up interviews the night of the event, so your constituents can follow the process and hope for a WIN!