Sweet charity

Red and white balloons waved back and forth in the air, hovering over tables covered in white cloths. A line of adults and students wound around the outer walls, as each visitor got his or her hand stamped with a heart, signifying they had paid for the sweet treats they were about to sample. As children ran back and forth -- on a perpetual sugar high -- a band played the song "Hey Good Lookin'" from the front center of the room at the Bloomington/Monroe County Convention Center, 302 S. College Ave. \nThe next line of the song is "Whatcha got cookin'?" Answering this question are the offerings on the long table at the back of the room. Chocolate cheesecakes, brownies, cookies, candy and pies cut into bite-size pieces are arranged on trays. \nThis scene unfolded Saturday during the fourth annual Chocolate Fest, Options for Better Living's way of raising money for a cause and celebrating a favorite dessert ingredient.\n"I'm having a great time," said Leo Cook, a member of the group's fundraising board and the evening's master of ceremonies. Sporting a Hershey's Kiss glued to each of his jacket shoulders, Cook spent the evening presenting awards and throwing complimentary Yoo-hoo T-shirts to the audience.\n"It's a great event," Cook said. "Who doesn't like chocolate? I love this stuff."\nOptions for Better for Living is a group that partners with disabled individuals to "bring about self-directed and fulfilled lives," according to the group's mission statement. The organization provides services to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities by helping each person reach individual goals. The organization supports about 160 adults and children in South Central Indiana.\nChocolate Fest, the group's annual fundraiser, gives individuals, groups and restaurants a chance to enter a favorite chocolate-based dish in one of several categories. Restaurants and children under age 12 compete in separate categories, while all other entries are divided by type.\nProceeds from the event come from ticket sales and silent auction items. These items included gift certificates from area restaurants and businesses, the world's largest chocolate bar and celebrity autograph items from Olympic diver Greg Louganis and men's head soccer coach Jerry Yeagley. The first-place creations in each category were also up for auction.\nVeronica Amarant, development director for Options for Better Living, said the ticket sales brought in close to $6,000. Amarant said the final total for money made at the event cannot be tallied until all the silent auction items are picked up and paid for.\n"We had more proceeds at the door than last year's proceeds at the door," Amarant said. "We will have more money at the outcome; we had more sponsors this year and more support from the community."\nSome students found an appreciation for the event beyond the dessert-tasting by working as volunteers.\n"I think it's a really good opportunity for a great charity," said Courtney Brooks, a sophomore.\nAs Amarant and Brooks monitored the silent auction area, fellow volunteer Megan Masengale, a sophomore, agreed with Brooks.\n"I think it's great to center an event around chocolate because it appeals to a wide range of people," she said.\nBoth women chose this opportunity in order to satisfy a community service requirement for Phi Alpha Delta, a pre-law service fraternity. Bloomington resident Vicki Witham said she decided to volunteer because she had heard about the event several times and wanted to attend.\n"I thought (volunteering) was a great way to experience it," she said. "I'm having fun and I'm up to my ears in chocolate."\nAs Witham and fellow volunteer Kathy Sears cut up desserts covered in icing, fruit and, of course, chocolate, both said although they might be sick of chocolate once the night is over, it was worth it.\nPatrick McDonald, a junior, and Deanna Westerfield, a master's student, might agree with the volunteers. The two sat at a table to one side of the room talking and tasting plates full of chocolate selections. To them, Chocolate Fest was the perfect place for a date. \n"I saw the movie 'Chocolat' and then saw the ad for Chocolate Fest, and it seemed like a good idea," McDonald said.\nCarolynn McLaughlin, a third-year law student, walked away from the evening with more than just a full stomach. She won second prize for her Bittersweet Orange Cloud Pie. Although McLaughlin has a sandwich named after her in upstate New York, this was her first dessert-related culinary exploit.\n"I'm totally stoked on chocolate," McLaughlin said to explain her enthusiasm.\nThe large numbers of people who turned out to indulge in the chocolate desserts surprised Brooks.\n"I think it's a real success, much more than I expected," Brooks said.