The “stars at night were big and bright” last Wednesday at the John’s Island Community Service League’s Texas-sized fundraiser, Lone Star on the Beach. More than 400 members and invited guests two-stepped their way over to the John’s Island Beach Club and right from the start knew they were in for a wild ride.
In addition to the Tallest Texan (on stilts), arriving cowpokes were greeted by two (ahem) lovely barmaids – golf pro Steve Hanlon and tennis pro Lennart Jonason – before moving through to the lobby and poolside for cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and entertainment by the Blue Cypress Bluegrass Band.
“It’s the prerogative of the event chair to choose the theme and I just love an excuse to do anything western,” said Julie O’Connor, adding that they wanted to keep things casual and the country atmosphere lent itself to that. “The dancing is really fun, and the line dancing is a wonderful way for the single people of John’s Island to be included.”
Everyone really got into the spirit of the evening, sporting all variety of western-wear – denim jeans and skirts, turquoise jewelry, boots and cowboy hats – even some pretty pink-feathered cowgirl hats with flashing lights.
“Western is our style; we spend summers in Colorado,” said Sandy Rolf, looking delightful in her denim flag-shirt alongside husband Randy and his longhorn cattle-print shirt.
Bright white tablecloths were offset by pops of color from the royal blue and white bandanas covering the chair-backs, and wild-flower arrangements set in straw hats added to the festive atmosphere.
“I’m Daisy Mae, right off the farm. Is my tooth still black?” laughed Diane Feeley, sporting pigtails, bare feet and one strategically blackened tooth.
After a Texas-themed buffet featuring grouper tacos, spiny lobster Criolla, chicken enchiladas, barbeque beef and all the accompaniments, guests danced into the wee hours, hoofing away to Ronnie and the Ramblers and getting the lowdown on line dancing by Cowgirl Sue and Country Dan.
The gala is the major fundraiser for the JICSL, whose mission is “transforming lives in Indian River County through leadership, collaboration and dedicated philanthropy.” So all partying aside, JICSL First Vice President Hope Woodhouse noted that the most important aspect of the gala was to raise funds to support the community.
The JICSL is awarding $917,000 this 2015-16 season. That’s a record number; topping last year’s $822,000 by almost $100,000. The grant committee, chaired by Pat Brier, is allocating
$851,000 to 38 agencies, and $66,000 is being allocated by the scholarship committee, chaired by Sandy Johnson, to scholarships for the children of John’s Island employees.
“Additionally, for the first time, we committed to two years of funding to four agencies,” said Woodhouse. “Thanks to the generous contribution of one of our members, we now have a new, more flexible fund which will consider off-cycle, start-up, incubation and multi-agency grant requests. We are in the process of making agencies aware of this new Unrestricted Fund and the process to access it.”