The Firefly Gala gets glittery with Kesha

“Tik tok” was heard multiple times throughout The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota March 30, but no one was concerned about what time it was – only that it was time for pop singer Kesha to take the stage.

For its 25th anniversary, Forty Carrots Family Center and the Dart Family Foundation brought in Kesha to perform for the annual Firefly Gala. 

Forty Carrots Family Center helps families through parenting education, mental health resources and early childhood education. About 93% of children who go to the center are able to go for free because of donors, many of whom contribute at Firefly and the organization’s other large-scale fundraiser, Wine, Women and Shoes.

The evening began with cocktails and light bites in the hotel gardens, as well as silent auction items to browse. Guests mingled and glittered in the sun with their sparkly attire. After cocktail hour, guests were seated under the tent, which was decorated in several shades of pink.

A Kesha-signed guitar and meet-and-greets with the pop star were auctioned off during the live auction, in addition to a ski trip and concert trips in Chicago.

After dinner, the live auction, the mission moment and paddle raise, partygoers were ready to “throw some glitter and make it rain” with a lively concert in the hotel ballroom. The party continued into the early morning with an after-party in the hallway of The Ritz.