Saturday, November 14, 2026
Ladies at the annual Optimist Club Kentucky Derby Party show off their spectacular hats!
Sarah Lee and Mitzie Kelly accept the Volunteers of the Year award from Jamie Savarino.
Matthew Gallup and Ty McCarty were named Junior Volunteers of the Year.
Marco Island United board members Alan Rossi, Lindsay Catalano, Patty Bores, Patrick Baldwin, Chris Heflin, Jared Grifoni, Adam Heinrich, and Scott Kerens.
Karl Safrenek is named Honorary Lifetime Referee.
Jamie Savarino, Patty Bores and Lindsay Catalano did the event's budgeting, planning, and decorating. “We plan on doing it again next year,” said Bores.
The Optimist Club of Marco Island (OCMI) and Marco Island United Soccer Club (MIU) came decked out for their annual Kentucky Derby Party. Held on Derby Day, May 6th, at Joey’s Pizza and Pasta, this once-a-year fundraising collaboration of the two clubs helps cover the costs of sporting equipment, field rental fees, pro soccer trainers, jerseys and uniforms along with many other fees both clubs encounter. OCMI provides soccer, basketball, flag football and lacrosse for youths on the Island and MIU is Marco’s competitive soccer club.
The Kentucky Derby theme gives everyone the chance to dress in their finest coats, fascinators and even a few suspenders. And then there are the fabulous hats!
The Derby Party also gave out awards: John Hudspeth for Coach of the Year; Sarah Lee and Mitzie Kelly for Volunteers of the Year; Matthew Gallup and Ty McCarty for Junior Volunteers of the Year; Karl Safrenek, Honorary Lifetime Referee; and Carvelli Restaurant Group for Sponsor of the Year.
The generosity of community members and attendees who donated at the event allows the two clubs the ability to keep the cost low for Marco families whose children want to play organized sports. Without OCMI or MIU, families would have to travel to Naples to participate in recreational and club-level sports.
Special recognition is given to Dinos and Marianne Iordanou. Their generosity allowed MIU to provide uniforms for the entire club! Also recognized were Chris and Jamie Savarino. They organize all the teams, games, and more for the Optimist Club. Event organizers also give thanks to the business that donated to the silent auction: Born and Raised Charters, Six Chuter Charters, Ace Hardware Marco Island, Dolphin Cove, Rose Marina, Italian Deli and Market, Carvelli Restaurant Group, Starbucks Marco Island, Coastline Engraving, Soul Project Yoga, Rick's Island Salon and Spa, Elite Nails, Beauty Counter by Lauren P., Marco Island Sports Group, Futbol Factory and Naples Elite SC.
For more information on OCMI and MIU and how you can support their programs, visit mioptimistclub.org and marcoislandsoccer.com.
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