Guests at the Dazzling Masquerade Ball to benefit the Hibiscus Children’s Center last Saturday, held at the Moorings Yacht and Country Club, dazzled in their own right, with sequined, feathered and bedazzled masks accompanying every gorgeous gown. And the handsome men got into the spirit as well, with plenty of colorful Venetian and harlequin masks.
“Good friends are passing each other and they don’t even know who they are!” laughed longtime Hibiscus supporter Carole Casey.
“It’s beyond what Julie and I envisioned. The masks are so beautiful,” said Sue Sharpe, event co-chair with Julie Otto, gazing about the room during the cocktail hour. “Originally, we had a lot of push-back from the men saying, ‘I’m not going to wear a mask,’ but they all came through. The important thing is the support from the community. The items and gift certificates from our silent auction alone total in excess of $30,000 in value. We have to raise a lot of money for Hibiscus.”
Government funding only provides about two-thirds of the financial support needed to maintain and run the Hibiscus facilities and programs. An additional $2.5 million must be raised annually through community donations, special events and grants. Hibiscus Children’s Center was founded in 1985. Its Shelter and Village provide a safe haven for abused, abandoned and neglected children and youth and its numerous programs include mental health and sexual abuse services, educational enhancement, life skills development and job readiness.
“Is this room not dazzling?” asked Otto, recognizing Fé Domenech for the table décor, featuring lovely centerpieces of hydrangea and roses. Thanking the hard-working committee and sponsors she added, “You gave and you gave and you gave some more.”
Alexis Holmes, who is currently attending college and working at a State Mental Health Hospital in Gainesville, was the guest speaker at the event. Now age 19, she was 5 years old when she was brought to the Hibiscus Shelter, and at 13 transitioned to Hibiscus Village.
“When I was placed at Hibiscus it changed my life considerably,” said Holmes, thanking the many mentors who assisted her along the way, as she now does for the children at Hibiscus. “The Village and the Shelter have changed my life. I beat the odds.”
Guests dined on a scrumptious meal featuring filet mignon and lobster tail, while being entertained by the band, Private Stock Productions, and later by talented dancers from the New Century Dance Co. And party-goers showed off their own fancy footwork following a live auction.
Newlyweds Elke and George Fetterolf came up with the idea to host “a party within the party,” inviting 26 friends and family from the U.S., France and Germany to enjoy a wedding celebration at the event.
“We wanted to have our friends, but we didn’t want to plan a big wedding,” Elke Fetterolf explained. “We always go to the Hibiscus Ball and thought – it’s always great food, dancing and entertainment and besides the money goes to a good cause.”
Raquel Tilton had an exceptionally handsome date for the evening – her son Randy Tilton, who is also the grandson of Hibiscus founder LaVaughn Tilton.
“He’s grown up with Hibiscus through the years,” said Raquel of Randy, a student at Florida Atlantic University. “He was in first grade at St. Ed’s and went in front of the parent’s association, because we needed a presence here in Vero Beach. As a young kid, he was part of the whole movement with Hibiscus; I used to take him with me. Now, at 21, he appreciates all that Hibiscus has done.”