Supporters of the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program celebrated 20 years of addressing the unmet needs of groups and individuals in Indian River County in the areas of health, education and human services during their recent Return to Paradise Gala Dinner and Auction, held outdoors at the Grand Harbor Golf Club.
The annual event was initially scheduled to take place at the Grand Harbor Beach Club, but it was moved at the last minute due to gusting winds off the ocean. Club staff and the event committee pivoted seamlessly, ensuring that guests would enjoy a lovely evening.
The event was held outside by the putting green, where attendees enjoyed appetizers, an elegant dinner, and live and silent auctions, before closing out the evening by dancing to the Riptide Band.
“The gala sold out in two hours,” said Susanne Sweeny, event co-chair with Catherine Reichert, adding that they had been surprised by the response, given the pandemic. With some 180 guests in attendance, Grand Harbor residents have once again stepped up to show that they care about their neighbors in need.
“We had no idea if we would have anything this year. The club was closed, the vaccine was still a wish, and you hardly ever saw anyone unless you were out walking. We remember that all too well. And yet, here we are tonight on this beautiful evening, in this wonderful setting,” said Kathy Tonkel, Grand Harbor Outreach board president, crediting the co-chairs for pulling it off. “Here we are in this beautiful setting, a true return to paradise.”
With travel still considered risky, Sweeny said the committee turned their sights toward locally sourced live-auction items, such as premier parking spaces, Indian River Lagoon river cruises, an Audubon adventure and Grand Harbor dining experiences, rather than their traditional travel packages to Manhattan with accompanying Broadway tickets.
One time-honored tradition remained, though – their Angel Auction. The annual paddle raise encouraged attendees “to pause and bring our focus back to those in need,” with a special emphasis on at-risk children, homeless families, the elderly and military veterans. In return, each of the special angel bidders were given handmade angels, fashioned out of shells.
Over the course of the past 20 years, Grand Harbor Community Outreach has given away more than $6 million in contributions, and in 2021 is providing funding to 28 charitable agencies. The group focuses its philanthropic efforts toward local agencies that seek to transform lives, strengthen families and improve the community.
For more information, visit ghcop.org.
Photos by Brenda Ahearn
