A Sunday of... Soundside Splendor
Event benefitting Children's Home Society raises over $50,000
Vici Papajohn/ Gulf Breeze News Collier Merrill, center, challenges the crowd to ante up a bid on an assortment of auction items during the live auction portion of the Sunday of Soundside Splendor. Participants and party-goers anticipated record totals exceeding The auction raised about $14,000. The Children's Home Society was the focus of an elegant soundside affair Sunday at Portofino Island Resort. The food, drink and fellowship was exceptional and the cause very worthy as partygoers gathered to raise awareness and funds.
Held poolside, the evening included wine offerings and tapa presentations from the premiere chefs Irv Miller, Jacksons; Dan Dunn, H2O; Gus Silvos, Skopelos; Frank Taylor, Global Grill; Jim Shirley, Fish House Chef and event organizer; and Rob Theriot, Portofino Island. Jorge Ordonez, Spanish Wine Maker, paired and provided wines.
The silent and live auctions featured extravagant gift baskets that raised thousands of dollars, nearly $4,000 in the silent auction alone and over $14,000 in the live auction handily conducted by Collier Merrill.
Children's Home Society Executive Director Cynthia Blacklaw reported at press time that the total for the event appeared to exceed $50,000.
TOP ROW: Supporters filled the area poolside at Portofino, far left. Cynda Felkner, Lee McLaughlin and Bethany Barfield enjoy the beautiful afternoon fundraiser, center top, while Cheryl Kees Clendenon, Renee Bookout and Joe Felkner peruse silent auction items, above. Children's Home Society was established to serve vulnerable children and their families in the Panhandle area providing a wide array of programs. Each program is designed with one goal mind: to protect children through preserving and strengthening their families.
The Children's Home Society of Florida, Western Division, offers 12 programs, including adoption, foster care, prevention services, education services, counseling services and in-home intensive intervention services.
In 1920, the Western Division of CHS opened in Pensacola to serve children and families residing in the panhandle area. Each program is designed with one goal mind: to protect children through preserving and strengthening families.
Committee chairs for the event were Karen Hendrix and Beverly Pica. Sponsorship Chair Gary Michaels raised record sponsorship for the affair despite tough economic times. Irie Vance and Abbie Offerdahl chaired the very successful silent and live auction.
For details or to contribute to the ongoing efforts of the Children's Home Society, contact Executive Director Cynthia Blacklaw or Gay Deese at 266-2700.
  AT LEFT: Buddy Vance, David Davidson and Lee Brown, far left, sample the chef's fare, while Mary Adams, Matt Dannheisser and Tammy Dannheisser gather to support the Children's Home Society live auction.   Vici Papajohn/ Gulf Breeze News Food for the event was prepared by top area Chefs Irv Miller , Jacksons; Dan Dunn, H2O; Gus Silvos, Skopelos; Jorge Ordonez, Spanish Wine Maker; Frank Taylor, Global Grill; Jim Shirley, Fish House Chef and event organizer; and Rob Theriot, Portofino Island. Ordonez paired and provided wines for the event.  Vici Papajohn/ Gulf Breeze News Philanthropy runs in the family, and the extended Vigodsky family has attended the Sunday of Soundside Splendor event for years! Cousins Terry and Cindy Gross, Craig Vigodsky, Fred and Brenda Vigodsky, Steve Jurnovoy, Holly (Vigodsky) Jurnovoy and Brett Vigodsky enjoyed the 2009 event and the weather! |
