The ladies of the John’s Island Community Service League outdid themselves with a blockbuster Spring Benefit fundraiser featuring a performance by Grammy Award-winning country music artist Wynonna Judd.
From the moment people entered the ‘JICSL Ranch’ for the Home on the Range-themed event, it was clear that the 45th Anniversary Celebration was going to be something special.
During the early part of the evening, some 700 guests moseyed into the Cocktail Corral, where they were treated to a performance by Western showman Loop Rawlins, a “one-man Wild West show.” Dressed head to toe in black, Rawlins mesmerized the crowd with an impressive display of fancy gunslinging, trip roping and whip cracking.
Next came a lip-smacking barbeque dinner, rustled up by Chef Anthony Cole and his attentive staff, and served up under an immense tent. That was followed by the highlight of the evening, a performance by Judd and her four-piece band.
“This concert celebrates our 45th anniversary as an organization, and it is unlike any event we have ever had here at John’s Island. So many people have been working for what seems like a very long time to make this a perfect evening for everyone,” said Ellen Kendall, JICSL board president in welcome, before praising everyone involved and thanking the numerous sponsors.
The Spring Benefit co-chairs, Deborah Littleson and Maris Pascal, led a committee of hundreds of volunteers, and were assisted by Nancy Follett and Marcy DeWolfe, overall JICSL event co-chairs.
“Their creativity, enthusiasm and hard work were endless,” said Kendall.
Among the many staff members who played a huge part in its success were David Colclough, general manager; Austin Petit, assistant GM; and Monica Gibbon, director of catering. Kendall also thanked Mike Scott, director of golf maintenance, who helped turn the driving range into the Western range and would be reopening it to golfers by the next afternoon.
“And finally, I want to thank all of you. You have generously supported this event, which was expensive for us to put on, but you came through. We sold out and we’re looking at a successful fundraiser. This year, we are planning to send out into our community almost $2 million in annual grants, strategic grants and scholarships. Last year our total was about $1.7 million, and we are increasing that by about $500,000,” said Kendall.
“With your donations we are changing people’s lives for the better right here at home in Indian River County,” she added.
“The amount of people involved with all the details was just amazing,” said Follett. “It was really the effort of an army. I couldn’t be more proud. We’ve never had a blockbuster like this here; this one was just over the top.”
Lines of chairs in front of a stage had been set up on the far side of the tent for the hour-long concert.
“The driving range is normally so huge, but we really wanted to create something intimate, even with over 700 people. Watching the concert, it really felt like this was a special private event. It was definitely an effort, but it was tremendous,” said Follett.
“The concert was great. (Judd has) been through such hardships in her life, and she really has a grateful heart. That’s what came across to me last night. Her music is part of her healing; it was really beautiful,” Follett added.
For more information, visit JICSL.org.
Photos by Joshua Kodis
