Armature Works was the perfect backdrop for A Kid’s Place Fostering Hope “Fire and Ice” Black Tie Gala Presented by Krista and Arthur Schultz!

Guests glowed and sparkled in black tie and sequins as they entered the cocktail hour, sponsored by Homes by WestBay, through a fog of smoky bubbles to be greeted by Red Hot Fire on the other side. Longtime and new supporters sipped on Bubbles, sponsored by Quality Distribution, while bidding on over 80 different items at the silent auction, sponsored by Florida Executive Reality Hope Foundation. The antipasto display was delicious and the Signature Drink Ice Luge sponsored by Marpai and The Chris Sullivan Foundation, was a fun and festive way to round out the cocktail hour!

Presenting sponsors Krista and Arthur Schultz led the way into the ballroom where the icy blue decor shimmered beneath snowflakes and icicles suspended from the ceiling. During dinner, the mood turned somber briefly with the presentation of the 2020 Dottie Berger MacKinnon Guardian Angel award. Last year’s recipient Julie Weintraub dedicated the honor in memory of the Honorable Judge Tracy Sheehan. “She cared so deeply about children in foster care,” said Weintraub as former Tampa City Councilman Harry Cohen accepted on behalf of the Sheehan family. “The significance is not lost on anyone that just a year ago, Tracy presented the award to Julie,” noted Cohen.

Auctioneer Jason Alpert turned up the heat as guests crossed their fingers to win a $5,000 Shopping Spree at Gold and Diamond Source during the Heads or Tails game, and engaged in some friendly competition during a red-hot live auction of unique trips and experiences, including a bid for a poodle named Gizmo.

CEO Brad Gregory thanked the crowd for their generous and ongoing support for the nearly 1,500 children removed from traumatic home situations since A Kid’s Place opened its doors in 2009. This year, guests gave from their hearts raising a record breaking amount for our children. Because of the generosity of the Tampa Bay Community, we exceeded our expectations and netted over $310,000 to provide future programming and projects for our continuously growing and expanding campus.

Guests finished off the night with some fun in the photo-booth sponsored by Apollo Medical Services, silenced their sweet tooth at the Dessert Station sponsored by The Anderson Family, and danced the night away with the Shawn Brown Band thanks to the sponsorship from The McNichols Co.

A special thanks to our Fabulous Gala Planning Committee and our amazing sponsors, guests, vendors and volunteers! You are all a special part of our village and together we made a difference in the lives of abused, neglected, and abandoned children from all over the greater Tampa Bay area.