FORT LAUDERDALE, FL– After a two- week Facebook campaign with more than 5,000 overall votes, Winterfest is proud to announce eleven-year old Alex Casamento, representing the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Chapter, SE Region, as the 2014 Winterfest® Jr. Captain in the 43rd Annual Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest® Boat Parade. Eleven other nominees and their families will enjoy the Parade on Saturday, December 13 from Winterfest’s Grandstand Viewing Area located in Birch State Park.

Alex Casamento suffers from Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA), which is an autoimmune disease that impacts his toes, ankles, knees, hips, back, neck, shoulders, elbows, and fingers. Alex is one of 300,000 kids in the U.S. who suffer with this painful, debilitating and incurable disease. Alex was born in Russia, adopted at eight months old, and hospitalized for the first time ten days after coming home. Alex was diagnosed at age 5 and does not remember a time without pain, doctors and medications.

“We are thrilled to have Alex represent the Broward/Miami region of the Arthritis Foundation,” Mike and Karen Casamento emailed when they were notified their son won the contest. “With one million spectators and millions watching the Parade on television, we can bring much-needed awareness to Juvenile Arthritis.”

More than10,000 participated in the contest to support Alex and the other nominees via social media. Other Broward County charities participating in the Jr. Captain contest were 211 Broward, A Prom to Remember, Abi’s Place, Broward Children's Center, Handy, Inc., Tomorrow’s Rainbow; The Children’s Diagnostic & Treatment Center; Children’s Home Society of Florida, HOPE South Florida, Leadership Broward Foundation, Inc. and Russell Life Skills and Reading Foundation.

The Winterfest® Jr. Captain was created to honor 15-year-old Amanda Blake who battled osteosarcoma, a rare form of bone cancer. This Young Cancer Warrior was introduced to Winterfest® by the Wasie Foundation and the Jessica June Children's Cancer Foundation. Wasie Foundation representative, Jen Klaassens along with Lisa Scott-Founds, President & CEO of Winterfest, Inc. and Event Director, Dawn Read, met Amanda prior to losing her battle. This monumental meeting changed the Parade’s waterway tradition forever as Amanda Blake's legacy continues each year with the Winterfest® Jr. Captain of the Seminole Hard Rock Winterfest Boat Parade title, honoring a child fighting a tough battle.

For more information about Winterfest, Inc., please call our office at 954-767-0686 or visit the Winterfest website at www.WinterfestParade.com for additional voting information.

Photos available per request.

About Winterfest, Inc.
Winterfest is a Florida not-for-profit organization based in Broward County that produces a variety of events including the free public event known as "The World’s Most Watched Boat Parade." Millions via television and approximately one million spectators view the Parade on the 12-mile route. Winterfest also hosts annual events to enhance the community’s image and provide unique, wholesome family entertainment. For more information on Winterfest, please contact the office at (954) 767-0686 or their website: www.winterfestparade.com.

About Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino invites you to play, stay, dine, and shop at South Florida’s premier destination for fun and entertainment, Where Rock Royalty Lives. Over 90 tables offer Blackjack, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Texas Hold’em Bonus Poker, Casino War and Let it Ride on a nearly three-acre casino floor. Additionally, over 2,200 slots include the Native-American Casino linked Multi-Area Progressive Jackpots and Mega Jackpots. Separate high-limit rooms for table games and slots, in addition to a non-smoking room, are available for guests to enjoy. Loyal Player’s Club members also have access to the exclusive VIP Plum Lounge and VIP Chef’s Table show kitchen. The Poker Room at Seminole Hard Rock hosts various games and tournaments of Limit and No Limit Texas Hold ‘em, 7-Card Stud and two dollar and four dollar limit Omaha Hi Lo games. Located inside the casino is Hard Rock Cafe -Hollywood, part of Hard Rock’s 142 globally recognized rock ‘n’ roll restaurants. The Green Lodging Certified by the State of Florida, AAA Four Diamond-rated resort showcases 500 luxurious guest rooms, 40,000 square feet of meeting room space, Rock Spa, award-winning restaurants, high-energy nightclubs, lounges and bars, boutique retail shops, the 350-seat Paradise Live theater and the 5,500–seat Hard Rock Live concert arena. Located on State Road 7 (U.S. 441) in Hollywood, Florida. Take I-95, exit Stirling Rd. and travel west to 1 Seminole Way. For more information, call (954) 327-ROCK, 1 800-937-0010 or visit us online at www.seminolehardrockhollywood.com, facebook.com/seminolehardrockhollywood, twitter.com/SHRHollywood, instagram.com/semhardrockhollywood and youtube.com/semhardrockhollywood.