Imagination, a gala
"Onward, Upward, Outward" reflects the ambitious goals and theme of Imagination, the 16th annual gala for the Glazer Children's Museum. Co-chairs Jennifer and Justin Phelps embedded bars and buffets within the exhibits, (antipasto, sushi, tacos, New York strip steak - SaltBlock Catering really kicked it up a notch this year), making each floor more fun. The 500 guests summited to the top floor for dessert, dancing and a super auction. How super?
Two Super Bowl LIII tickets with transportation to Atlanta on a private jet went to Matt Tolba and Tamer Youssef for $16,000. Amy and Raphael Drehsen bid $13,000 for the Manchester United super fan trip. A silent auction of career days for little learners and leaders added even more to the Sept. 7 gala proceeds.
CEO Jen Stancil and emcee Jason Alpert thanked all 50 sponsors before the band Frequency kicked in and a hot air balloon emblazoned with the gala logo landed in Curtis Hixon Park for late night photo ops
13th annual Martinis for Moffitt
Everybody was in a mood to party with the handsome and charming Bay Area Advisors, famous for hosting their Martinis for Moffitt midsummer blowout. The men's club maxed the attractivity score as 1,200 guests scoped out the highly Instagrammable scene July 21. DJ Fresh knows this crowd loves to dance, some swapped stilettos for flip flops from a big cart in the Straz Center lobby. They also like to sip Tito's Vodka lemonade and eat prawns, ceviche, short ribs and salads plus Boat Run Oysters and Cigar City Beer outside in huge air-conditioned tents.
A big, fat check is coming to the Moffitt Cancer Center soon from chairmen Matt Schwartz, Eric Rabinowitz, Ryan Conigliaro and Brady Diggs who collected a whopping $260,000 that night to add to the $1.2 million they have already raised for prostate cancer research and the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Program.
27th annual Gourmet "Feastival"
VIP guests got dibs on a cozy lounge and Yacht StarShip scallops and pork bellies at the 27th annual Gourmet Feastival hosted by the Helen Gordon Davis Centre for Women. They had exclusive grazing privileges for an hour before another 1,000 supporters swarmed into Armature Works, the eaters as diverse as the edibles offered. ranging from Ava to Zeko's Grill. My fav: World of Beer's Guinness and mint chocolate ice cream float.
The Chello Hollyday Band amplified the vibe Aug. 23 while emcee Allison Kropff of WTSP-Ch. 10 inspired the foodies to raise more than $50,000 so the Centre can continue to offer financial, employment and wellness coaching as they have for 40 years.
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