Ninth Annual Friends of VINP Gala Raises $56,000

 

Lt. Governor Greg Francis, center, and his wife Cheryl Francis, far left, mingle with guests including St. John architect Rob Crane, second from right, and St. John Administrator Leona Smith, far right, at the February 23 fundraiser.

From  the very minute guests arrived at this year’s Friends of V.I. National Park Gala on Saturday evening, February 23, they were treated to a night of high-style to honor the group’s 25th anniversary.

Under a full moon, more than 250 guests — including Lieutenant Governor Gregory Francis and his wife Cheryl — enjoyed the lavish soiree while helping Friends of VINP raise more than $56,000 to continue its work supporting cultural and natural resource programs in the park.

A red carpet lined with white roses greeted guests to Steven and Pamela Deckoff’s Estate Peter Bay home Presidio del Mar. The fun continued inside as guests began to dance to In the Sand Band before the sun sunk below the horizon.

Guests bid on exciting silent auction items for everything from gift certificates to local restaurants and shops to boat charters and more and one lucky guest took home a $6,800 pendant.

(L to R) Joy Stillman, Miles Stair, Susan Stair, Rudy Patton, Irene Patton and Andy Stillman enjoying their time at the Friends of VINP Gala.

“Always a highlight of the event, this years’ raffle and silent auction were no exception,” said Karen Vahling, Friends of VINP’s development director. “Lucky winners took home artwork, jewelry, dining packages and lots of other great prizes, and everyone took away thank-you bags filled with Friends logo items, GoVino wine glasses and biscotti from East/West Catering.”

“Leona Smith was the lucky winner of the special raffle for a stunning Tahitian pearl and diamond pendant valued at $6,800, donated by R&I PATTON goldsmithing,” said Vahling. “Her smile was equally stunning.”

Gala-goers enjoyed a scrumptious buffet courtesy of Mathayom Private Chefs and St. John Catering while sipping wines provided by Premier Wines and Spirits, ABCellars and Skurnik Wines. Other sponsors for the night included Queen of Tarts, Merchant’s Market, Baked in the Sun, Josephine’s Greens and Caneel Bay Resort.

After dinner, many guests enjoyed a “Taste of History” bar helmed by rum expert Kim Holland, of Asolare, who shared more than just a few shots of the hard stuff, explained Vahling.

“The Taste of History bar was literally that, with aged Caribbean rums,” Vahling said. “Kim did a great job, she even had a smoker under a dome which she put the glasses under before pouring the rum.”

“It was really dramatic and people loved it,” she said.

The bar also featured gourmet truffles and fine cigars, Vahling added.

“It was like a speak-easy feeling,” said Vahling. “It was set off a little from the main dance floor and just felt really private and fun.”

Friends of VINP officials introduced unbreakable, reusable glassware at the group’s gala last year, which proved so popular, the GoVinos found their way into this year’s thank you bags, Vahling explained.

“The GoVino reusable travel wine and champagne glasses are really classy looking and they travel well,” said Friends’ development director. “They don’t break and they’re great for the beach. Last year we had them at the event and people loved them so much, they grew legs.”

“So this year we decided to put them in the thank you bags and give them away,” she said.

While a chance to dress up and boogie down, the Friends’ Ninth Annual Gala helped the group raise critical funding for its many educational programs, Vahling added.

“We sold out of tickets and we exceeded our fundraising goal,” she said. “Considering it was the night of 8 Tuff Miles, which was not intended to happen, I am really pleased with the turnout.”

“Even the volunteers who ran 8 Tuff that day or who had been at water stations, everyone came out anyway, which says a lot about our organization,” Vahling said.

The night would not have been a success without those volunteers, Vahling explained.

“We had about 40 volunteers and along with auction and raffle donors and guests who came to support the cause, that is what made the night a success,” she said.

While Friends of VINP always accepts donations, residents can start to look forward to the group’s next fundraiser on May 26, the 10th Annual Beach to Beach Power Swim.

And it’s never too early to mark those calendars for the group’s 10th Annual Gala, set for February 1, 2014, at a yet-to-be-determined villa, Vahling added.

For more information about Friends or to donate to the group, call Vahling at 779-4940 or visit www.friendsvinp.org.