provided to The Santiva Chronicle
The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium is pleased to announce its annual benefit gala will be held Saturday, March 16, 2024, and the Sanibel Captiva Trust Company will again be Presenting Sponsor. Proceeds of the event will support the final stages of post-hurricane rebuilding and improvements and will be an investment in the future of the museum.
“The museum and The Trust Company have a strong bond, having partnered together for two decades,” said Al Hanser, Founder and Chairman of the Sanibel Captiva Trust Company. “It’s a special place, and we are honored to help the Museum recover and improve after Hurricane Ian so it may once again share critical knowledge of our ecosystem and a truly unique experience to island visitors.”
The fundraising gala event, titled A Night at the Museum, will be held throughout the museum from 5 to 8 p.m. on March 16. The evening will include cocktails in the Living Gallery of Aquariums and dinner in The Great Hall of Shells with its soaring 30-foot ceiling and artful original windows by Luc Century.
Attendees will enjoy an evening of camaraderie and community, live music during cocktails by Danny Morgan and Amy Sbarra, and a delicious dinner catered by Artichoke & Co. An exciting auction of original items and experiences and a paddle raise will comprise part of the dinner program.
“The museum team is doing an extraordinary job of restoring the campus and exhibits,” said Jeff Muddell, Sanibel Captiva Trust Company’s Sanibel Office President. “We’re proud of our community for supporting this organization and the thousands of visitors they serve every year.”
The museum will reopen in phases to visitors in early 2024. Major new additions and improvements to the permanent exhibit galleries will transform and enhance the educational and visitor experience.
“The Sanibel Captiva Trust Company is a generous, major supporter of the museum and has been for more than 20 years,” said Sam Ankerson, National Shell Museum Executive Director. “The Museum is grateful for all the company’s work and philanthropy on behalf of non-profits and communities throughout Southwest Florida.”
Visit ShellMuseum.org/gala to learn more and purchase tickets for A Night at the Museum gala.
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