Waldo’s Restaurant was a happening place last Saturday at the second annual Barefoot Beach Ball to benefit the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association. Guests had dressed up in a motley combination of black-tie formal wear and casual surfer gear to dance and dine before jumping – fully clothed, of course – into the ocean, as a way to raise funds to purchase lifesaving necessities.
With Recreation Department budgets tightening over the years, our dedicated lifeguards have gotten creative, forming the VBLA in 2011 and holding a series of fundraisers to keep city lifeguard stations supplied with much needed equipment and supplies. In addition to funding equipment purchases, the organization also serves to educate the public about issues affecting local beaches and public safety.
IdeaGarden and Planet Vero introduced the Barefoot Beach Ball concept last year, patterned after nationwide “high-brow” events which have guests trading in itsy-bitsy, teeny-weeny bikinis for tuxedos and nightclub attire to take a dip in the sea. Additional funds were raised Saturday through a bachelor lifeguard auction, where attendees had an opportunity to bid on a day with a hunky lifeguard, which included lunch at Waldo’s followed by various water activities.
VBLA President Eric Toomsoo said he estimated attendance this year to be at least twice that of the previous year, with roughly 125 people taking part in the night’s festivities. One of the biggest surprises, announced by Waldo’s manager Lee Olsen, was that Peter Busch of Southern Eagle Distributors was donating an ATV for lifeguards to use to patrol the beaches.
“This is incredible,” said Toomsoo. “Our goal is to build our headquarters and lifeguard tower right here at Humiston Park. Our number of water rescues each year and rescues caused from heat-related issues has increased, and we need a way to get those people off the beach. This ATV is really going to make our job so much easier.”
Toomsoo was appreciative of Busch, Olsen and the many other business owners who have supported the association over the years. He noted that as a result of county budget cuts which had decreased lifeguard protection outside of the city borders, more tourists and residents had been flocking to the city’s guarded beaches.
“Unfortunately, our tax dollars cannot fully cover our need for the lifeguards. But the proximity of Humiston Park to Waldo’s and the Driftwood Inn makes it important for us to see that they have what they need for our guests’ safety,” said Olsen. “They are like school teachers who are having to use their own money at times for supplies. And since families are flocking to our city beaches, it is so important for us to help them have what they need. Tourism is one of our biggest industries, so it is important for businesses to support them to keep people coming here to our beautiful beaches.”
At sunset Dave and the Wave saxophonist Jim Alexander led the bow tie-attired lifeguards into the sea for the “hunk dunk” followed by a happy bunch of formerly formal partiers who laughed as they emerged – soaked but happy, knowing they were helping our lifeguards keep our beaches safe.
