Debbie Williams and her team of guest bartenders blew out all expectations with our fund-raising event at the Mint Nightclub in Los Angeles.

The dedicated group raised $28,957 in tips to be used to support ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) research initiatives.

Special congratulations go out to our top five individual fund-raisers for the night:

Greg Hester
Nicole Privett
Ken Koprowski
Lee Pasteris
Debbie Williams

Thanks to everyone who attended this fun event with lots of laughter, cocktails, and love. Our founder Barry Winovich was in attendance, and he loved greeting everyone. From old co-workers to new friends on the West Coast, from current friends to old high school buddies, Barry valued each and every one of you who found the time to stop by and support his mission.

Thank you as well to Bright Side’s new celebrity friends who added some Hollywood sizzle to the night: Brian Van Holt of ABC’s Cougar Town, Sarah Lancaster of NBC’s Chuck, and Trina Dolenz of VH1’s Tool Academy.

An especially warm thank you also goes out to everyone who couldn’t attend, but found it in their heart to share a “virtual tip” online with their favorite bartender.

And to our team of guest bartenders; we love you and we appreciate your efforts more than you can ever know. Our success is entirely your success, and you will always be a special part of Bright Side!

Don’t forget, our bartenders’ tip jars will remain open for a few more days! Click to send them a virtual tip online.

The ongoing struggle to find a cure for ALS is a daunting task, but we won’t give up if you don’t give up.

Together we will make a brighter tomorrow for those afflicted with this disease.

Barry Winovich and the Bright Side of the Road Foundation

The Bright Side Road Show goes to the Mint Night Club in Los Angeles in February for an event like no other!

Bright Side of the Road Foundation Guest Bartending events take on a life of their own! We’ll celebrate friends, share a drink or two, and gather tip’s that will fund research to find a cure for ALS.

Click here to visit our Guest Bartending website and support a bartender!

Here’s how our LA Guest Bartending works:

We have assembled the hippest, hottest activist bartenders in the greater LA area. And they are vying for fabulous prizes and accolades by raising the most tips.

And they need you…

Just click here to visit our Guest Bartending event website and select your favorite server at our LA event. Simply make an online, tax-deductible donation and help your favorite bartender to become the top fundraiser!

In the LA area? Consider joining us at the Mint on February 20th from 5pm - 9pm. Share a drink served by our guest bartenders and hang out with  Bright Side founder Barry Winovich.

And of course, there will be real tip jars on the bar to put the evening over the top!

To view the individuals photos, click here.

The Plain Dealer and Cleveland.com also posted photos and event coverage here.

Thank you for being part of our rock & roll fairy tale that was the First Waltz  at the House of Blues.

It was another incredible night of live music, celebration and fellowship. Watch for our photos of the night to be posted on the website very soon!!!

We value your continued financial support of our mission, but it is your love and shared commitment to our dream that allows us to bravely walk on the bright side of the road.

Forever Grateful,
Barry Winovich and the Bright Side of the Road Foundation

Your presence is requested at the party of the year! Don’t wait as the tickets to the 09 First Waltz are selling fast!!!

Click Here to PURCHASE your First Waltz Tickets Today!!!

Please join the Bright Side of the Road Foundation for another magical evening of music, friends, auction items at the House of Blues Cleveland! Our grass roots organization is targeting to have raised over 1 Million Dollars for ALS research by 2010, and we want you to help us celebrate this accomplishment.

WHEN:
Friday, November 20th
7pm-1am

WHERE:
House of Blues Cleveland

Evening festivities to include:

Concert & Dancing
Once again, we’re booked both stages at the House of Blues with six bands playing Rock, R&B, and your Dance favorites!

Auction Event
We’ll have a giant array of auction and raffle items in all price rances

Plus be part of a special participatory team art event with Quinn Stilletto!

Ticket price $125 each.

Each ticket includes 2 drink tickets, heavy appetizers, and complete access to the party of the year!

Click Here to PURCHASE your First Waltz Tickets Today!!!

Dress for the First Waltz:
Smart, FunkyCool Casual (No BlackTie Allowed)

Thank you to all of the ladies who washed their hands clean of responsibility and joined Bright Side of the Road Foundation for another Girls Night Out on Thursday, October 1st.

As usual, it was a great way to catch up with out girl friends at a friendly, casual affair at Trifles Cafe in Chagrin Falls.

There was live music and complimentary hors d’oeuvres. We also had some special guests and hostesses (board members in drag) to help sell tickets to the First Waltz 09. It was a night of fun and smiles.

Thank you to everyone who took advantage of the opportunity to purchase pre-sale tickets to the First Waltz at a special discounted price!

As most of you know, Bright Side of the Road was founded in response to our dear friend, Barry Winovich’s diagnosis of ALS.  Since his diagnosis, we have raised over $800,000 to fund ALS research at the Cleveland Clinic. This is only due to your continuing support, and we can’t thank you enough.

Thank yo to everyone who left their cares at home…and joined us for a fun night out just for the girls!

A heart-felt thank you goes out to our Chicago Guest Bartending supporters.  The Chicago gang led by Jen Truzkowski raised $30,000 at Tommy Nevin’s on Saturday, September 12th!!  This is by-far our most successful Guest Bartending event to date and a sign that it pays well to drink and be merry once in a while!!

The evening did a great job to take the sting out of close Ohio State loss to USC.  Chagrin Falls, Ohio native - and old, dear friend - Jen Conway (Sutcliffe) and her husband Tom have set the bar at new levels for these events by raising over $10,000 themselves - truly a dynamic duo!!!

Thanks to everyone who supported our Chicago Guest Bartenders and ultimately our mission to fund important ALS research initiatives.

In March, 2008 I read an article in Golf for Women magazine about the LPGA tournament player, Cristie Kerr and her “Birdies for Breast Cancer” foundation. Kerr counts her birdies and donates a specific amount for each, to finding the cure for breast cancer.  I was immediately inspired and started my own birdies program to donate to Kerr’s foundation.  I approached my family and friends to ask for their sponsorship, and in total I made 37 birdies for my 2008 golf season and was able to donate over $1,000 to her foundation.

In February, 2009 my grandmother, Carol Dovishaw, was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) otherwise known as Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is an incurable, fatal, neuromuscular disease. The cause of ALS remains unclear and no cure exists. When I found out about my grandma’s diagnosis I knew I wanted to make finding the cure to ALS my permanent birdie charity.

I’m now working with the Bright Side Foundation which assists in funding research for The Cleveland Clinic.  All proceeds I earn from my 2009, Birdies Fore ALS, will go directly to The Cleveland Clinic, my Grandma Carol’s hospital.

Your donation may not be able to help my grandmother, but we can make a difference and help others. This fatal disease needs to be stopped, so I ask for your support.

Please consider making a one time donation or a per birdie donation.  Click here to learn more and contribute to my mission!

My season will conclude at the Ohio State High School Golf Tournament on October 23 – 24.  YES, I WILL be at States this year!

THANK YOU to everyone who participated in our Guest Bartending event at the Ironwood Cafe on Friday night!!!

Through the gifts of your time and donations, we were able to raise over $13,000 in memory of Matt Pochatek to support the Barry Winovich Endowed Chair for ALS Research at the Cleveland Clinic.

We also want to thank our guest bartenders who were so generous with their time on a Friday night:

Meghan Pochatek
Julie (Pochatek) Packer
Mike Pochatek
Tom Pochatek
Jim Thomas
Gerry Thomas
Denise (Pochatek) Taylor
Don Taylor
John Hull
Mary Jane Hull
Kathleen Mulgrew
Dave Cook
Holly Hepner
Jeff Sorg
Nina Varga
John Graber
Laura Graber
Rob Reid
Tim Piai
Tom Trueman
Carol Trueman
Steve Waters

With your generosity, we can continute to support the Cleveland Clinic and its mission to identify the cause and cure for ALS.

Forever Grateful,

Barry Winovich and the Bright Side of the Road Foundation

In explaining his involvement with Bright Side, event organizer AJ Melaragno said, “I saw Barry a couple of weeks ago, and if you saw the passion and fight in his eyes to beat this horrible disease, then you would understand why I am putting this event on. Not only is this a great opportunity to get everyone together once a year, but it’s for a great cause.”

A big Bright Side of the Road “thank you” to the golfers who played in this event:

AJ Melaragno
Ken Melaragno
Randy Mears
Don Reichert
Jay Keltner
Grant Gannon
Tiffany Fishbein
Teddy Fishbein
Kevin Dooley
Lou Coines
Bhavin Shah
Praveen Nath
Rob Colosimo
Chris Zaruszak
George Melachrinidis
Nick Panousis
Spiro Zarkos
Tim Damis
Wayne Tschirn
Alex Damis
Steve Mellor
Chris Hall
Dave Behls
Sebastian Mitchell
Kevin Thompson
George Haralambakis
John Barnes
J.P. Gallagher

Thanks also go out to Bright Side Golf Liason Jen Leonard for all of her hard work in coordinating the event both behind the scenes and on the course!