Those of us who can’t make it to the French Quarter for Mardi Gras have a great option for a special celebration right here in the Triad. Make plans now to participate in “Celebrity Serve for Wishes” on March 8th, better known as “Fat Tuesday.” A unique fundraiser, Celebrity Serve is held at various Triad restaurants which donate 10 percent of their proceeds for the evening to the Make-A-Wish-Foundation^® of Central and Western North Carolina. Make-a-Wish^® Foundation sends their “Wish Teams” out to children aged two-and-a-half to 18 with life-threatening medical conditions, to identify and grant their special “wishes.” The Central and Western North Carolina chapter has been wonderfully productive, fulfilling wishes at the amazing rate of nearly one every day and a half; 229 wishes were granted last year, a third of these were right here in the Triad.

Make-A-Wish^® has recruited Triad celebrities from the media and entertainment worlds, corporations, small business, government, sports personalities and other public figures. As the Celebrity Serve name suggests, the celebs—including all three subjects of our Home Resources’ builder profiles this month—will join restaurant wait staff to serve patrons and/or host tables. Paparazzi should be on the lookout for Zack Rothrock of Rothrock Renovations and Building, Buck Horn of Buck Horn Construction, Rick Tozier of Sonoma Building Company, Chuck Hicks of ICON Custom Builders, Ron Williams of Ron Williams Building Company, Matt Menzi of River Ridge Builders, Alan Fletcher of Alan Fletcher Construction, and Jerry Herman of the Home Builders Association of Winston-Salem.

At the end of the night, 100 percent of the tips and donations the celebrities earn will be donated to help fund wishes for local children. Table sponsorships are also available at participating restaurants for an additional $250 per table.

A more detailed list of celebrity servers and participating restaurants can be found at www.celebrityserve.org. Just click on the links at the top of the page to find a restaurant near you, and a roster of celebrity servers, including popular area radio and TV personalities, a doctor, a symphony conductor, a beauty queen, a two-time Pittsburgh Steelers Superbowl Champion, and even a builder or two. Then invite your family, friends and business contacts, and let the good times roll!