Les Trois Chefs

NEWS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MEDIA CONTACT:    Hugh Nystrom

Childhelp Tennessee

865-637-1753

‘Les Trois Chefs’ cook to support Knoxville’s tiniest victims
Event featuring Argentinean wine, four-course meal to benefit Childhelp Tennessee

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (May 29, 2007) – For the ninth consecutive year, three area restaurants are teaming up for Les Trois Chefs, an evening of gourmet cuisine, perfectly-paired wine tasting and a live auction all benefiting Childhelp Tennessee, a regional branch of the national nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse and neglect.

Bistro by the Tracks, Flemings Steak House, Cherokee Country Club and VG’s Bakery are coming together for the September 21 event to create an exquisite four-course meal expected to attract 200 supporters at this year’s new location, Cherokee Country Club.
    
Each portion of the delectable meal will be expertly paired with wine specially imported from the Argentinean winery Bodega Tittarelli, courtesy of William-Harrison Imports. Harrison Jones, president of William-Harrison Imports, will be on hand to guide attendees through the tasting.

“Harrison has been working in the wine industry for more than 25 years,” said Thad Cox, Jr., Les Trois Chefs wine coordinator. “He has exceptional expertise in hand selecting French and Argentinean wines from within the international market.”

Since Les Trois Chefs was first kicked off in 1998, the event has raised a combined total of more than $1 million in gross revenues, all of which are allocated to help fund operations within Childhelp’s Tennessee-based programs.

Childhelp operates two programs that serve children in the Knoxville community. The Childhelp Children’s Advocacy Center of East Tennessee, which served more than 900 abused children last year alone, provides a central location where professionals come together to investigate child sexual abuse in a child-friendly environment. The Childhelp Foster Family Agency of East Tennessee provides training, support and supervision for couples, individuals and families to provide foster family homes for children in need.

“Childhelp seeks to provide a child-friendly atmosphere for victims of abuse, while also generating a seamless process for investigating the claims of abuse with the least amount of added trauma to the child.” said Hugh Nystrom, director of program operations for Childhelp Tennessee. “Monetary support from Les Trois Chefs not only helps with the general operating costs, but it also helps ensure that we can keep a series of experts on staff – everyone from forensic investigators to pediatric physicians to help administer medical exams.”

In previous years, Les Trois Chefs has hosted several celebrity ambassadors such as The Rubino Brothers from Fine Living’s "Made to Order" and Tyler Florence of the Food Network’s “Tyler’s Ultimate.”

Made possible through sponsorships from Clayton Homes, Scripps Networks, Jewelry Television, Holrob, Mountain Commerce Bank and other leading companies and individuals from the Knoxville-area, Les Trois Chefs will also feature various hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a live auction. For more information or to RSVP for the 2007 Les Trois Chefs, call Childhelp Tennessee at 865-637-1753.

About Childhelp®   
CEO and Co-Founder Sara O’Meara and President and Co-Founder Yvonne Fedderson started Childhelp in 1959, establishing it as a leading national non-profit organization dedicated to helping victims of child abuse and neglect and at-risk children. Childhelp’s approach focuses on advocacy, prevention, treatment and community outreach.

The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline, 1-800-4-A-CHILD®, operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and receives calls from throughout the United States, Canada, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Guam. Childhelp’s programs and services also include residential treatment services (villages); children’s advocacy centers; therapeutic foster care; group homes; child abuse prevention, education and training; and the National Day of Hope®, part of National Child Abuse Prevention Month every April.

For more information about Childhelp, call 480-922-8212 or visit www.childhelp.org.