Friday, December 4, 2009

CYD Gingerbread House Contest crowns a winner

	CYD Gingerbread House Contest Photos from the event

The Community Foundation of Sarasota County placed first in the 2009 CYD Gingerbread House Contest held December 3, 2009. The entry from BlackstoneHunt Investigations finished second, and Whole Foods took third place in the first annual competition among corporate teams.

The event took place at the Westfield Sarasota Square Mall and the homes were judged by Chefs Chris Covelli and Shane Dabney of Cosimos, Chef Bob Atkins, Kathy Winkler and CYD youth leader Chelsea L’Heureux, a junior at Riverview HS.

CYD’s “Gingerbread Village” is open to the public during mall hours in the JC Penney wing at Westfield Sarasota Square Mall. The corporate houses remain on display along with 60 houses created by Sarasota County youth groups. Prizes will be awarded for the youth entries on Saturday in three categories – elementary, middle and high school. Admission is free, and donations are accepted for All Faiths Food Bank. “We hope the public will come and enjoy these incredible houses,” said Paige Hartmann, chair of the CYD Gingerbread House event and owner of Siesta Key Suites. “They bring a smile to your face.”

For more information, please contact the CYD office at 922-5126.

CYD is funded through grants from the Sarasota Board of County Commissioners, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, and the Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice to provide pro-social, drug-free activities for youth.

Contact Karen Bogues at 922-5126 for more information.