Bonnie Walker and Janine Nebons PHOTO BY STEPHANIE LABAFF

More than 200 guests received an animated greeting from holiday-themed characters visiting from the North Pole, along with a flurry of “Florida” snow as they entered the Grand Harbor Golf Club for the Evening of Giving event hosted by members of the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program.

Grand Harbor residents and friends rekindled friendships during a champagne and eggnog cocktail hour with live entertainment before sitting to enjoy a dinner buffet.

Each year, Outreach members donate to various nonprofits that Grand Harbor has worked with for nearly 20 years, giving them funds specially earmarked for the types of needs that arise over the holidays.

“We have the Friends of Santa, where people personally choose which charities they would like their contribution to support. Then we have the Secret Santa Society, where individuals donate to the general fund, and we allocate it to where it’s most needed,” explained Janine Nebons, event co-chair with Bonnie Walker.

“We found that that was a great way to mix it up a little bit and get enthusiasm going,” she added.

Nebons said that the evening netted more than $50,000, noting that the beneficiaries included Bike Walk Indian River, Camp Haven, the Samaritan Center, Senior Resource Association, the Source, Veterans Council of Indian River County, St. Francis Manor, and Tykes and Teens, among others.

“We have an elf that works with each group, and we come up with what they need or what would make Christmas special for their constituents. Then we give them the money to purchase it,” Nebons explained.

She said the Evening of Giving grew out of an effort by Liz Melnick to provide children who would otherwise have nothing with some holiday joy through the Redlands Christian Migrant Association. As the initiative grew, the Grand Harbor Community Outreach Program, which seeks to address unmet needs in the areas of health, education and human services, took this fundraising effort under its wing.

For more information, visit GHCOP.org.

Photos by Stephanie LaBaff