Long gowns billowed across the dance floor, dapper tuxedoed men shared fine cigars, and plenty of red carpet moments heralded A Kid’s Place “Fostering Hope” Vintage Hollywood Black Tie Gala.  As guests arrived they were whisked through the entryway of Hyde Park’s trendy Epicurean to partake in a champagne tower sponsored by Connie Gage with The Toni Everett Company while registering their names on the sold-out guest list.

From there they stopped to peruse the generous silent auction items, have a picture made in front of the sponsor wall, then made their way down the red carpet and Walk of Fame to the VIP reception area presented by Homes By WestBay.

Silver platters of hors d’oeuvres and signature drinks were in constant motion as guests circulated the room, stopping at the photo booth sponsored by assessURhealth and raffle tables.

Finally, the doors opened and guests were seated for dinner as the wait staff served braised short ribs, FISH, and exotic side dishes before kicking off the live auction.

The bidding brought out friendly competition and generous hearts as auctioneers Jason and Taryn Troutman brought the evening to a feverish pitch that helped net over $160,000!

With special thanks to our Gala co-chairs Connie Gage and Mallory Tai Taylor and our amazing sponsors, the evening was a huge success and a way to bring advocates for foster children together.

No matter if you’re a hero to a foster child or a donor who helps build foundations for programs to benefit these special children, together we made a difference in the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children from all over the greater Tampa Bay area.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *