Care Resource, South Florida ’s oldest and largest HIV/AIDS community service organization, is proud to announce that Top Chef Sandee Birdsong has agreed to be the celebrity spokesperson for their fourth annual “Dining Out For Life” fundraiser on Thursday, May 1, 2008.

Celebrity Chef Sandee Birdsong, who appeared on Bravo’s number one rated culinary series “Top Chef” in 2007, grew up on Saint Simons Island , Georgia, where her culinary talent was inspired by fresh seafood and local produce. Currently she is the Executive Chef of Miami ’s Star Studded Hot Spot, “Tantra”, where she garnered 3-stars and rave reviews. Her specialty is southern soul food and her signature dish is Grilled Hamachi Collar with Southern Collard Greens and Soy Sherry Reduction with Jalapeno Corn Bread. Her newest venture, “A Plus Chef”, targets childhood obesity by educating South Florida children and their parents, through seminars, cooking classes, healthy alternative school lunches and health fairs, in the dangers of eating junk food and not maintaining a well-balanced diet.

 Dining Out For Life is a one-day international fundraising event that takes place in over 45 cities and benefits HIV/AIDS organizations around the world, Care Resource is the beneficiary of the event in South Florida.  This is the fourth year the agency has hosted the event which is co-sponsored by the New Times Newspapers of Broward/Palm Beach and Miami-Dade and includes some of South Florida ’s favorite restaurants pledging a portion of their day’s receipts as a donation to Care Resource. The public, to show their support, just needs to go out and have a meal with friends, family, or co-workers on May 1st at one of the restaurants listed on DiningOutForLifeSouthFlorida.org.

 “We are very excited and lucky to have Sandee be a part of this fundraising event” said Terry DeCarlo , Public Relations and Marketing Manager for Care Resource, “She is a person that is truly dedicated to our mission and above that, an amazing chef”.Sandee will appear in all radio, television and print advertising for the South Florida Dining Out For Life event, she will also be a special guest for Care Resource’s 20th Anniversary of AIDS Walk Miami alongside Celebrity Grand Marshal Jane Lynch, on Sunday, April 20, 2008.

 For more information on Care Resource, its events, or to find participating Dining Out For Life restaurants, visit CareResource.org. For interviews with Chef Sandee Birdsong please contact Terry DeCarlo.