Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation hosts annual gala

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The dancefloor was full at the annual fundraising event, hosted by the Diamondhead Resort. JESSE MEADOWS

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Town Manager Roger Hernstadt and his wife, Jessica. JESSE MEADOWS

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Kelly Smith and Debbie Voorhees. JESSE MEADOWS

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Left to right: Ron and Jan Fleming, Norton Burge, Deb Gold, Wendy Jaeger Ryfinski, Linda and Wayne Edson. JESSE MEADOWS

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Left to right: Director Bobbi Kemp, Dave and Patty Feste, Elaine and Jim Moses, and Cindy Richardson. JESSE MEADOWS

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Islanders donned their wackiest suits and flashiest dresses for the Fort Myers Beach Community Foundation’s annual gala at the Diamondhead last weekend.

The theme, “Dancing We’re the Stars”, had a flexible dress code: any era goes, as long as you hit the dancefloor in style.

There were flapper dresses, poodle skirts, a luau crew, a gaggle of Pink Ladies a la Grease, and plenty of sequins twinkling in the disco lights.

The silly atmosphere offest the Foundation’s serious goals to give back to the community.

Seventy-five women, led by President Sheryl Bowman, make up the organization which donates funds to Keep Lee County Beautiful, the Beach Library, and the Fort Myers Beach Fire Department, to name a few.

They also organize annual beach cleanups, and conduct a butterfly garden project at Beach Elementary School.

“I’ve never met more women that seem to be born with an innate mission to serve and help those in need in our community,” Bowman told the crowd.

The FMBCF awards scholarships annually, and has begun an application and review process for 2019, open to anyone on Fort Myers Beach looking to further their life through education.

Applications are due by March 1, 2019.

The FMBCF meets the third Wednesday of every month from October-May.

More information can be found at www.fortmyersbeachcf.com.