Stunning setting wows guests at Fairchild’s ‘Gala in the Garden’
Some 400 patrons of Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden recently made the annual “Gala in the Garden” fundraiser a sold-out success.
Held Saturday evening, Feb. 2, the lavish black-tie event brought a “who’s who” of South Florida’s business and social worlds together for Fairchild’s largest fundraiser of the year.
Event chairs were Swanee DiMare and Frances Sevilla-Sacasa; philanthropic chairs were Joyce J. Burns and Penelope Stamps.
Swanee and her husband Paul DiMare have been major supporters of Fairchild for years and have been instrumental in building the new Paul and Swanee DiMare Science Village.
Ms. Burns chaired the first gala some 20 years ago; she and her husband Tony we also a part of the Swanee and Paul DiMare Science Village through their generous funding of the Burns Science Building.
The latest fundraising gala commenced with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres on the beautiful Italian mosaic of the Jean duPont Shehan Visitor Center, where guests also bid on a fabulous array of silent auction items.
After the reception guests proceeded to a large lakeside marquis for a five-star dining experience and dancing to the music of the Soul Survivors. All evening the garden’s splendor and beauty were showcased.
All proceeds from the Gala in the Garden support Fairchild’s programs in conservation science, education and horticulture and collection management.
Photos by Jeannett Slesnick / Community Contributor
