Plan for night out on the town with Celebrity Waiter Night on Monday

If you plan on wining and dining Monday evening, you're in for a real treat.

This year marks the 15th annual Children's Place Celebrity Waiter Night event, and more than 100 well-known community members will come together to serve others.

According to organizers, this fundraiser brings together the Aiken community to help improve the lives of Aiken County's kids.

"I am so grateful to the local restaurants, businesses, industries and volunteers who make Celebrity Waiter Night such an enjoyable event," said Peggy Ford, Children's Place executive director. "The event is a success because of their commitment and generosity."

Celebrity Waiter Night will feature 11 restaurants with two first-time participants, Maxine's and WingPlace.

All of the participating celebrity waiters make the night fun by offering great, personal service, Southern hospitality and a bit of comic relief.

"I'm not sure how I'll do carrying a tray full of drinks," said Christy Heaton, a first-time participant at Soiree. "But I know our team and the guests we serve will have a good time for a great cause."

While Celebrity Waiter Night is a fundraiser, its primary goal is to be a "friend-raiser."

The event offers Children's Place the opportunity to reach hundreds of locals and educate them about the services Children's Place provides and the opportunities the locals have for community involvement.

In fact, many Children's Place board members and volunteers first learned about the organization through Celebrity Waiter Night.

"For Children's Place to thrive, it's essential people understand what we do and how what we do is different than other community organizations," Ford said.

"Celebrity Waiter Night allows us to interface with groups in our community we might otherwise never reach."

For more information on the 15th annual Celebrity Waiter Night event, call Kelly Findley at 439-7955 or email kellyfindley@yahoo.com.

Reservations are encouraged at the establishments to assure seating availability.

Contact Ashleey Williamson at awilliamson@aikenstandard.com.

Want to go?

Restaurant: Casa Bella

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Kelly and Beth Trice; the Shaw AREVA MOX Services Team.

Reservations: 641-3107

Restaurant: Davor's

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Carl and Pearline Smith and Molly Hunt and Sharer Dale; Smith Financial & Tax Advisory Group.

Reservations: 641-1909

Restaurant: Houndslake Country Club

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Peggy Davis, Rob Gentry and Kelly Sanders; SRNS Team.

Reservations: Private party, no reservations available

Restaurant: Linda's Bistro

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Sara Wood; Ronnie and Bonnie Maxwell and Bobby and Bernice Miller

Reservations: 648-4853

Restaurant: Maxine's

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Phillip Merry; Joyce Brady and Audrey Ford, Mike Uhle and Greg Adams and Gary Williamson.

Reservations: 226-0369

Restaurant: The Reserve Club at Woodside Plantation

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Tom Williams; Reserve Club members and staff

Reservations: 648-1601

Restaurant: Soiree

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Christy Heaton and Shadie Barber; Meg Massie and Heather Thurmond, Dana Massey and Heather Young and Debbie Williams and Roslyn Ingram.

Reservations: 226-0097

Restaurant: The Restaurant at The Willcox

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Todd Stilp and Jane Page Thompson and Barbara Morgan; Tom Bossard, Kara Flanders, Barb Uskup, Henk GeGraaf, Len Cherry, Robin McCarthy, Kasey Craven, Alan Corey, Justin Pimsner and Mary Guynn, Susie and Tiger Kneece, Cathy and Rick Cram, Megan and JP Godard, Kim and Rhett Sinclair, Sarah and Barry Acord and Paddy Ann and Latham Burns.

Reservations: 648-1898

Restaurant: TakoSushi

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Phyllis and Bobby Coker and Jennifer Parrot; Brian and Jessica Cunning, Fred and Pam Webb and Bryan and Casey Young.

Reservations: 642-8899

Restaurant: Up Your Alley

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Charlie and Lyddie Hansen; Jackie Kane and Dana Hall, Sandy Berry and Kevin Morrison, Ben Lynn and Brandy Jackson and Brad Swanson and Debra Sandifer.

Reservations: 649-2603

Restaurant: WingPlace

Celebrity hosts and waiters: Carson and Sandy Sublett and Andrew Siders and Gerry Owen; Rick and Angle Osbon, Dr. and Mrs. John Tiffany and Charlie Heaton and Samantha Caniglia.

Reservations: 644-7777