2022 Going Grateful Gala Gives Hope

On April 3, 2022, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Women hosted the 2022 Going Grateful Gala and Auction at the Island Country Club on Marco Island. Doors opened at 5:30 PM for the silent auction and refreshments, followed by a plated dinner, live auction, raffles and live music by Kelly and Shelly.

The event raised over $12,000 for Episcopal Relief and Development working with other ecumenical agencies to provide humanitarian aid in response to the current Ukraine crisis. These agencies are there to help provide basic supplies including food, cash, blankets and hygiene supplies to those who fled Ukraine to reach safety.

Gala goers also generously supported St. Mark’s Preschool by donating $5,000 in Helping Hands Scholarships. These monies are used to help give the blessing of a St. Mark’s Preschool education to children who might need that extra hand to help lead them to a bright future. St. Mark’s uses the natural curiosity of children to teach math, reading, and critical thinking skills and take a whole-child approach to early education. Children of all races, cultures, languages, and faiths are welcomed and celebrated.

Excitement roared when bidding started for the live auction of a private sunset dinner cruise for twelve (12) aboard The Entertainer, a luxury yacht docked on the Isles of Capri. This magical prize package included a freshly prepared gourmet dinner, full open bar and breathtaking ambiance of the setting sun as you sail through the beautiful Isles of Capri and Marco Island. The opening bid was $2,400 but quickly grew to over $3,000. Due to the fierce bidding competition and the presence of one of the vessel’s owners, St. Mark’s was able to auction two additional cruise packages that evening raising over $10,000 for the cause.

Other outreach programs benefitting from proceeds of this events include St. Mark’s Laundry Love, Manatee Middle School, Project Help Rape Crisis Center and DaySpring Episcopal Conference.