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Going for the Gold 'An Unbridled Evening'

The YMCA Foundation hosted its annual Going for the Gold event themed ‘An Unbridled Evening’ Saturday, May 2, at Dolphin Aviation.


  • By Heather Merriman Saba
  • | 11:17 p.m. May 2, 2015
  • Black Tie
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Saturday, May 2, at Dolphin Aviation | Benefiting YMCA Foundation of Sarasota
Co-Chairs: Merrill Bonder, Dan Dannheisser, Mitchell Epstein and Mike Hagan | Guests: 525

Who doesn’t love a Derby party? Fashionably dressed men and women donning hats, drinking mint juleps and watching the traditional sport is such an iconic American pastime. And combine that with the YMCA Foundation of Sarasota’s largest fundraising event of the year and you’ve got yourself a great evening.

This new theme for the Y Foundation’s 24th annual Going for the Gold event was a wonderful success for the organization, which sold 100 more tickets compared with last year. And there was an added element of excitement this year: Guests placed bets on horses to win or place and show at the 141st Kentucky Derby, with the bets counting as donations to the Y Foundation.

Debbie and Co-Chair Dan Dannheisser
Debbie and Co-Chair Dan Dannheisser
Dawn and Co-Chair Mitchell Epstein
Dawn and Co-Chair Mitchell Epstein
Co-Chairs Mike Hagan and Merrill Bonder
Co-Chairs Mike Hagan and Merrill Bonder
Bonnie Rogers, Ron Ciaravella, Fred Fiala and Bill Rogers
Bonnie Rogers, Ron Ciaravella, Fred Fiala and Bill Rogers
Vance Dickinson, Michele Grimes and Richard Smalley
Vance Dickinson, Michele Grimes and Richard Smalley
Ben Doherty and Avarie Hannah
Ben Doherty and Avarie Hannah
Patty and Ernie Garcia with Janet Hagan
Patty and Ernie Garcia with Janet Hagan
Al and Leslie Jeffrey
Al and Leslie Jeffrey
Louis Robison and Kathleen Collins with Roxie and Mike Jerde
Louis Robison and Kathleen Collins with Roxie and Mike Jerde
Sandra Wasserman, Rod Connelly and Charlotte Stringfellow
Sandra Wasserman, Rod Connelly and Charlotte Stringfellow
Co-Chair Merrill Bonder and Jeff Bronze get a caricature drawn at Going for the Gold.
Co-Chair Merrill Bonder and Jeff Bronze get a caricature drawn at Going for the Gold.
Jeff Bronze and Co-Chair Merrill Bonder
Jeff Bronze and Co-Chair Merrill Bonder
Brendan and Nicole Coudal
Brendan and Nicole Coudal
The YMCA Foundation hosted its annual Going for the Gold event themed ‘An Unbridled Evening’ on Saturday, May 2, at Dolphin Aviation.
The YMCA Foundation hosted its annual Going for the Gold event themed ‘An Unbridled Evening’ on Saturday, May 2, at Dolphin Aviation.
Dawn and Co-Chair Mitchell Epstein with Ethna and Ted Wishnie
Dawn and Co-Chair Mitchell Epstein with Ethna and Ted Wishnie
George and Cheryl Gabriel with Ellen McLaughlin
George and Cheryl Gabriel with Ellen McLaughlin
Andrea and Tom Roth
Andrea and Tom Roth
Amanda Simmons and Pat Martin
Amanda Simmons and Pat Martin
Janet Smalley, Jackie Dickinson and Terry Chandler
Janet Smalley, Jackie Dickinson and Terry Chandler
Samantha Watkinson and Ali Iglehart
Samantha Watkinson and Ali Iglehart

 

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