The 6th annual fundraiser took place on March 30 at Michael's on the Bay at Selby Gardens.
By
Katie Johns
| 11:51 p.m. March 30, 2017
Longboat Key
Neighbors
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As the sun set over Sarasota Bay, the lawn of Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens filled up with chatter and clinking glasses, and rightfully so.
As saying goes, birds of a feather flock together. This year, seabird supporters proved that true at the biggest fundraiser ever for Save our Seabirds.
Save our Seabirds Sixth Annual Sunset Soiree brought nearly 250 supporters together March 30 for an evening of food, fun and feathers. The event is usually held at Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium, but this year, the Sunset Soiree switched to a location that allowed for a front-row view of a Sarasota sunset to match its namesake.
The event began with a cocktail hour complete with hors d'oeuvres, photo opportunities with birds and a silent auction. To add a little sparkle to the event, a one-carat diamond was attacked to one of 100 glasses of champagne that were offered for sale. The other 99 glasses had cubic zirconium to to the stems. As attendees circled the table checking the tiny bags and making their best guesses, it was clear the real diamond was the star.
But Save our Seabirds CEO David Pilston said his favorite part of the evening was seeing all the supporters.
“We’ve come so far in the last two years, and it’s all because of these people,” he said.
Event chairwoman Lisa Hartmann and CEO of Save our Seabirds David Pilston
Ali Chokr, Gunilla Imshaug and LaRue Chokr
Dana Leworthy, avian hospital administrator and Buck
Monique Seyler and Chet Zoltak
Ester and David Pilston, CEO of Save our Seabirds
Tacy and Jeff Telego
Laura and Joe Esposito and Bob and Laurie Wolf
Bob and Pat Farrell
David Glorius and Kimberley Carreiro
Ann Anderson, Ester Pilston and Sandra Rios
Pearl and Peter LaFata
Rich and Betty Ritter
Lucy Harris, Dena Prose, Beatrice Uzielli and Betsy Winder
AI and Monica Streacker
Mark and Jane Hammer and Philip Gaynes
Jenny and Lee Duffey
Sandra Ceshker and Deanna Rollyson
Pat Gardner and Allie Fugate
Lucy Harris, Joanne Forch and Dena Prose
Penny Thomas, Linda Rhinelander and Rene DePinto
Tara Morningstar with Gatsby the great-horned owl
Steve Goldman, Ellen Levine and Amy Goldman
Chairman of the Save our Seabirds Board Nick and Danielle Gladding, Denise Creedon and Stephen Madva
During cocktail hour, guests could buy glasses of champagne as part of “Glitz in a Glass.” One lucky winner had a one-carat diamond attached to the glass, while the others had cubic zirconium in their bags.
Nancy Lutzke, Missy Asen and Kathy Mosak
Ninety nine of the champagne glasses in “Glitz in a Glass” had cubic zirconium attached, but one lucky glass had a one-carat diamond.
Ron and Carolyn Vioni and Leon Wechsler
During cocktail hours, seabird supports could bid on various silent auction items, such as a weekend Porsche rental.
Marisol Schultheis, Morgan Eberling and Julia Eason
Dave Signori, Tacy Telego,Linda Signori, Steve Spencer, Piroska Planck and Terri Spencer
Molly Maginn, Bernie MacPherson, board member Jim Roque, Susan Fairbank and Dorothy Pratt
Seabird supports bid on silent auction items during cocktail hour.
Seabird supports mingled on the lawn of Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens during the cocktail hour of Sunset Soiree.
Before going home, attendees could purchase stuffed baby birds to take home.
Flower centerpieces adorned each table at Michael’s on the Bay at Selby Gardens for the 6th annual Sunset Soiree.
