Oldsmar Cares’ 7th annual Wine and Food Gala is set for Thursday, Feb. 9, 2017 from 6-9 pm at the Nielsen Ballroom at 501 Brooker Creek Boulevard.
The local nonprofit‘s casual-dress event will feature signature dishes from 11 area restaurants as well as beer and wine, live entertainment, automobiles, auctions and more.
The gala is Oldsmar Cares’ biggest annual fundraiser; last year the event raised more than $70,000, according to officials, and this year it will serve as a launch party for the organization’s new $300,000 headquarters that is scheduled to be completed in the fall.
“This year has special meaning as we recently announced that we are growing!” OC board member and media and marketing specialist Brenda Gaulin said.
“With a long-term commitment in the City of Oldsmar, we have plans to build a new 3,000-square-foot facility on State Road 580 next to the existing building.” she added. “So our theme for this year’s gala is “Raise the Roof,” and we intend to do just that!”
Gaulin said the gala is going back to its roots in 2017 by recruiting some of the area’s best restaurants to participate.
“The gala was originally conceived as a foodie type event, but over the years we got away from that concept. “Now we’re trying to get back to it,” she said.
The event, which will be emceed by Oldsmar Mayor Doug Bevis, will feature nearly a dozen area establishments, including Amici’s Catered Cuisine, Casa Cosenza and Green Market, Hot Tuna, Suegra Tequila Cantina and Rumba Island Bar & Grill; Applebee’s, Mother’s Restaurant and the Salt Rock Tavern are also expected to participate.
“It’s the best lineup we’ve ever had,” Gaulin stated.
Additionally, live entertainment will come courtesy of the Dance and Circus Arts of Tampa Bay, with stilt walkers and jugglers wearing construction costumes as part of the “raise the roof” theme, and there will be live and silent auctions featuring a slew of desirable prizes.
“We’ve made a lot of changes to the event based on feedback we’ve received,” Gaulin said, noting the addition of a cash bar as well as an increase in popular auction prizes such as vacation getaway packages, golf outings and sports memorabilia and merchandise. “We’ve learned a lot over the years.”
Gaulin also revealed details of a crowd favorite at the event that has proven to be immensely popular.
“The night’s door prize, which everyone who attends will be subject to winning, is dinner for two from all the restaurants that are participating in the gala,” she said.
“So one lucky winner is going to get free dinner for two for the rest of the year!”
Tickets for the gala start at $60 for an individual ticket and they include generous samples of the food and wine. Sponsorships are also available starting at $500 and offer multiple seats as well as tie-ins to the organization’s building campaign.
To that point, Gaulin wanted to stress that the money spent on tickets and auction items is kept completely separate for the funds being raised for the new facility.
“The tickets, auctions and most sponsorships are supporting our operating costs,” she said.
“There are some special sponsorships, the bricks, t-shirts and tumbler sales, that will go towards the building. But it is very important we keep this all separate, and we have created a building bank account for just this reason.”
Gaulin added tickets are going fast, and they typically sell out prior to the event.
“The Oldsmar Cares annual gala is always a marquee event enjoyed by over 350 people,” she said. “So I encourage those who wish to attend to act now and order their tickets.”
For more information on the 7th annual Oldsmar Cares Wine and Food Gala, visit oldsmarcares.org/gala.
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