Lexington Cliffbreakers' Executive Chef Tapped for Sundance Fundraiser

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. October 14, 2008

JANUARY 17, 2008. Lexington Cliffbreakers Riverside Resort announced today that its Executive Chef, Philippe Forcioli, will be travelling to Park City, Utah to partake in the exclusive Sundance Film Festival to help raise money for Gifts for Schools, a program by RewardsForGiving.org.

Cooking for such entertainment heavyweights is common for Chef Forcioli. In the past five years he has prepared culinary masterpieces for Kevin Costner (The Guardian, Dances with Wolves, Field of Dreams), Cuba Gooding, Jr. (Jerry Maguire, American Gangster), John McGinley (Scrubs) and Robin Leach (Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous).

"I enjoy opportunities this like so much and, while meeting the movie stars is a pleasure, helping them raise money for important charities is where I get my reward" says Forcioli. "We work hard and have lots of fun doing all of this. Needless to say, I get great satisfaction in working with some of the best and most creative talents in the world."

Chef Forcioli was brought to Rockford to take over the kitchen at Cliffbreakers after his tenure of Executive Chef at the immensely successful Jean-Georges Vongerichten. A native of France, Forcioli graduated first in his class from the prestigious Brevet d'Education Professionel located in Montpellier, France.

"Cliffbreakers is thrilled to help by opening Chef Forcioli's schedule for this time," said Michael Ellis, Owner and General Manager of Lexington Cliffbreakers. "We are pleased to help make these fundraising efforts more successful and believe it's an honor for us to be part of such a great event and cause."

In late 2007 Cliffbreakers, announced an agreement to become a Lexington Hotel (formerly having been affiliated with Choice Hotels). Steve Belmonte, President and CEO of The Lexington Collection of fine hotels, plaza hotels, and resorts worldwide praised the Cliffbreakers team. "Michael (Ellis) and his team are committed to service. It shows in the comments we hear from guests, the improvements in hotel operations and, just as importantly, in their commitment to giving."

"Cliffbreakers is expanding its commitment to make a positive contribution to our community and our environment. This effort, coupled with at least two new initiatives we're expecting to announce soon, are very exciting," said Ellis. "In the end, everything we do and everything we're working on is to make the Cliffbreakers' experience as nearly perfect as possible. It really is about doing business and celebrating life - which is not just our mission statement but it is our passion and our guide in all we do."