Culture


Two Women Named Chairs of 2016 SWFL Wine & Food Fest

You've heard of Sandy Stilwell and Andie Vogt, haven't you?

BY September 28, 2015

Anyone who has driven by HealthPark Medical Center lately has seen the massive, looming tower on its way to becoming the new Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.

Today, two women were picked to head up the 2016 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest—an event founded to make the hospital a reality. SWFL Children’s Charities Inc. has appointed Sandy Stilwell (bottom left) and Andie Vogt (bottom right) as chairpersons for the two-day festival. In addition to the hospital, the festival benefits the music therapy program at Florida Gulf Coast University and the pediatric nursing program at Florida SouthWestern State College.

Stilwell is CEO and owner of Stilwell Enterprises & Restaurant Group, which runs 10 Southwest Florida businesses. She also serves as: chairman of the board for PACE Center for Girls, Lee County; Hodges University trustee; Florida Gulf Coast University Resort & Hospitality School advisory board member; Gulfshore Life magazine community advisory representative; member of the Uncommon Friends Foundation and Florida Repertory Theatre; and vice president of the Captiva Community Panel.

Vogt is a board member of The Dream Catcher Foundation of SWFL, an organization dedicated to helping mothers and children in need, and assists the I-Club of Linn County in raising funds for the athletics program at the University of Iowa. Her dedication to helping children was inspired by her own children and grandchildren, and she was soon attracted to the SWFL Children’s Charities Inc.’s mission to help fund a state-of-the-art children’s hospital to benefit children throughout Southwest Florida. Vogt’s prior experience attending the Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest’s motivated her to become involved in the production of the annual fundraising event.

The 2016 Southwest Florida Wine & Food Fest is themed “Magnolia Magic” and will be held Feb. 26 and 27 at the Beach Clubhouse at Miromar Lakes Beach and Golf Club. For more information, visit swflwinefest.org.

 

 

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