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Sunshine from Darkness hosts Inspiring Hope 2021 at Ritz Carlton

The event was held on Nov. 12.


  • By Harry Sayer
  • | 3:13 p.m. November 13, 2021
  • Black Tie
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Hundreds gathered at the Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota to fund mental health research and addiction recovery at the Sunshine from Darkness nonprofit's returning Inspiring Hope Dinner on Nov. 12. 

The event featured guests mingling and bidding on gifts before sitting down for dinner and the night's program in the Ritz ballroon.

The night had two notable speakers — Steve Ford, son of former President Gerald Ford and Betty Ford, and major league baseball star Darryl Strawberry. Both spoke to the importance of addiction recovery. 

Money raised at the event benefit the First Step of Sarasota nonprofit and the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation. 

 

Co-chairwomen Taylor Karp Teymuri and Sarah Karp
Co-chairwomen Taylor Karp Teymuri and Sarah Karp
Speaker Steve Ford, Jeffrey Peterson and speaker Darryl Strawberry
Speaker Steve Ford, Jeffrey Peterson and speaker Darryl Strawberry
Maureen August, Judy Aleman, Steven Bloom and Dale Wolfson
Maureen August, Judy Aleman, Steven Bloom and Dale Wolfson
The event was held at the Ritz-Carlson, Sarasota.
The event was held at the Ritz-Carlson, Sarasota.
Frank DiNardo with Kathleen Krouse
Frank DiNardo with Kathleen Krouse
Shawny Robey and speaker Steve Ford
Shawny Robey and speaker Steve Ford
Christine Turner, Caitlyn Turner Ross, Umbreen Khalidi Majeed, Amalia Ivaldi and Jaclyn Brunckhorst
Christine Turner, Caitlyn Turner Ross, Umbreen Khalidi Majeed, Amalia Ivaldi and Jaclyn Brunckhorst
Demetrius Soteriou, Winston Kambondoma and Morgan Jaffray
Demetrius Soteriou, Winston Kambondoma and Morgan Jaffray
Afzal Teymuri, Tammy Karp, Shak and Narges Teymuri
Afzal Teymuri, Tammy Karp, Shak and Narges Teymuri
Richard Karp, president and CEO Jeffrey Peterson and Vernon Kearney
Richard Karp, president and CEO Jeffrey Peterson and Vernon Kearney
Nate Jacobs and Jeremy Shelby
Nate Jacobs and Jeremy Shelby
Charles Whitfield and Jane Roseboro
Charles Whitfield and Jane Roseboro
Judy Genshaft and Joanne Nelson
Judy Genshaft and Joanne Nelson
Amy and Michael Drake
Amy and Michael Drake
Tom Taylor and Margaret Wise
Tom Taylor and Margaret Wise
Alysha Shelby, Elisabeth Waters, Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed, Amie Austin, Donna Koffman and Jaclyn Brunckhorst
Alysha Shelby, Elisabeth Waters, Umbreen Khalidi-Majeed, Amie Austin, Donna Koffman and Jaclyn Brunckhorst
Jenny Hazeltine and Samantha Albano
Jenny Hazeltine and Samantha Albano
Tara and Jared Motzenbecker
Tara and Jared Motzenbecker
Klara Spilkova and Sandra Gal
Klara Spilkova and Sandra Gal
Megan Micale and Beth Green
Megan Micale and Beth Green

 

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