Second Annual South Jacksonville - Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza - Delivers

Open November 27, 2004 through December 19, 2004, is a charitable project benefiting Ronald McDonald House and Habijax (Habitat for Humanity). Presented by the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, this event is a combination of Gingerbread Houses, Holiday decorations and Southern hospitality.

Jacksonville, FL (PRWEB) November 21, 2004 -- When most people think of Jacksonville, Florida, they think about the upcoming Super Bowl and the NFL Experience. But, even before the Big Game", there is another event that is definitely a must see. Last night, the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville, Florida, unveiled its 2nd Annual Rotary Gingerbread House Extravaganza. Filled with dozens of delectable candy-covered artistic creations. And this exhibit is a masterpiece of masterpieces. Every house (gingerbread house) has taken its builder or builders over 100 hours to create" said Joe Miller, idea man behind this fundraiser. Its hard to imagine grown men and women working so hard on what most people consider a childish project," he said. But they love to do it and its rewarding" he added.

According to Joe, last years event raised over $42,000 dollars for the local Ronald McDonald House. They used this money to complete the rooms on the second floor of its new building" Joe said. This year, the Rotary Club is expecting to donate $100,000 dollars to charity. It will be split among two charities," Joe said. The committee agreed to split the amount between the Ronald McDonald House and Habijax" Joe added as he walked among the creations. You should see the outpouring of support we get!" Joe exclaimed. People just walk up and ask how they can be involved." he continued.

Joe, a 17-year club member, convinced the club to create the event as a way to raise charitable dollars while providing an event that the public could enjoy. Based on the smiles of joy from children and adults alike, the results speak for themselves. Last years event resulted in $800,000 of free press from local and regional press outlets. The morning after the opening last year" Joe said, The Florida Times-Union published a entire page devoted to our event." It included giant color photos, too" he added.

Although there were nearly one hundred sponsors for the first year, the founding sponsors included W.W. Gay general contractors, Coastal Construction Products, Firehouse Subs and AOL. At the opening of last years event, AOL (America Online) provided a million dollar interactive exhibit and passed out specially made plastic AOL cookie cutters as a way to help them celebrate while promoting the event. According to other club members, Joe called the head of national marketing for AOL and convinced him that the AOL running man looked very similar to a gingerbread man. Once AOL envisioned what we were trying to do, its participation just snowballed!" Joe exclaimed as he showed off one of the yellow cookie cutters.

Firehouse Subs, an up and coming national toasted sub chain, created the Worlds Largest Gingerbread Man for the inaugural event. Nearly 13 feet tall and five feet wide, this gingerbread giant attracted a lot of attention. Just like the gingerbread event, Firehouse Subs is growing in size adding nearly 100 stores in the past year and signing contracts guaranteeing another 500 real soon.

The 2004 major event sponsors include Coastal Construction Products, W. W. Gay General Contractors and Winn Dixie Food Stores. So whats new this year, you ask? The club has created a gingerbread magazine complete with last years photos and stories of gingerbread and its history as a treat. Club member Les Loggins, a local advertising company owner, added another creative idea and published this first ever Gingerbread Magazine. For a mere three dollars, someone can purchase a 32-page color magazine, which includes a discount coupon worth two thirds of that amount. You must include in your article, that without 100 percent support of every Rotary club member, and I mean every member, and the gracious donations from local businesses, this project would have never reached this level" Joe said. Im just so excited to see what it has grown into so quickly," he said as pointed to the holiday decorations.

Joes latest project is a 10-day event , a 14.5-acre venue, to open the week before the 2004 Super Bowl titled Riverplace Station (see www.riverplacestation.com) located at the Radisson Riverwalk Hotel. The Radisson is located on the river right in the heart of the activites. You can see the stadium just across the river from this 1400 foot frontal riverfront property. This site will include riverfront hospitality tents, 76 new boat slips, a market village, party tents, nightclubs, plenty of food and beverage and a stage area which will accommodate up to 12,000 people" Joe said as he pointed to the items on a site map.

The venue is located within a few feet of the NFL Experience and will provide entertainment 14 hours a day. Hewlett Packard is bringing its giant HP and Me" interactive exhibit that has only been displayed at five major events in 2004" Joe said. Contracts with our national media partner should be complete any day now which will guarantee major stage entertainment" he added. No matter what, were hoping everyone visiting Jacksonville to see the Super Bowl, will have lots of fun" he concluded. To ensure all the entertainment executes perfectly, the producer and promoter of the Jacksonville Jazz Festival for over 10 years, Dan Kossoff, has just been hired. Title Sponsor for this Super Bowl period event has not been signed, though two companies are vying for this position.

If you cant make it to Jacksonville, Florida, to visit this years gingerbread event, take a look at it online at the Florida Times-Union website www.jacksonville.com under community photos. Youll be surprised what can be created from a little sugar, a little water and a whole bunch of Service above Self". Finally, it should be noted that the Rotary Club of South Jacksonville will celebrate its 50th anniversary this coming January 2005, while Rotary International will celebrate its 100th anniversary. Rotary International has funded every polio vaccine provided worldwide for the past 50 years, totally eliminating Polio from the face of the planet this year. To read more about the entire event, visit www.rotarycharity.com. To read more about Rotary and its Polio Plus campaign visit www.rotary.org.

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