‘Surviving To Thriving’ fundraiser set for Saturday
A weekend event will help raise funds to improve the lives of abused and neglected children.
From Surviving To Thriving will be held on Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m. at Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro at The Westin Cape Coral Resort At Marina Village. Hosted by Erik Fine of Florida’s Finest Real Estate Team and Ana Loiselle, the fundraiser will feature a silent auction, live entertainment and more.
Loiselle explained that it is the first time for the event, which they hope to hold annually.
“We both love kids and we really wanted to get behind something we found important,” she said.
The proceeds will go toward the Children’s Advocacy Center of Southwest Florida.
“April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month,” Loiselle said, adding that they wanted the funds raised to benefit local children. “There’s really a lot of great things that that organization does.”
Tickets are $25 and can be purchased online up until the event.
There are a mix of items up for grabs in the silent auction.
“We have a seven-night Caribbean cruise,” she said. “We have a trip to Las Vegas.”
There is also a golf vacation to the RedTail Mountain Resort in Tennessee and a vacation to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina, along with Botox treatments, Mark Loren Designs gift card and more.
Loiselle noted that the getaways range in value from $1,500 to $3,500.
There will also be raffles for prizes, including Chico’s jewelry, massages and hair salon services.
“We’ve got lots of restaurants,” she said. “We’ve got a boat rental.”
The live entertainment will be provided.
“It’s a local band,” Loiselle said.
Hors d’oeuvres will be available, along with a cash bar.
Representatives from the Children’s Advocacy Center will be on hand.
“The big part of this is it’s about creating awareness in the community,” she said.
According to Loiselle, 60 percent of child abuse victims are boys and 79 percent of the victims are under the age of 4. Parents make up the majority of the perpetrators in the cases at 73 percent.
Organizers are hoping to raise $5,000 with the event.
“For this first event, we’re hoping to have at least 60 people,” she said.
For more information about the fundraiser, contact Loiselle at 239-910-8622 or visit the event’s Facebook page online at: www.facebook.com/ChildAbuseAwarenessMonth/.
For more on the Children’s Advocacy Center, visit: www.cac-swfl.org/.
The Marker 92 Waterfront Bar & Bistro is at 5961 Silver King Blvd.