The Stars Come Out To Break Fundraising Record for SanCap Cares

Photos provided by Amanda Hartman and Carol Orr Hartman

The stars shone brightly at South Seas Island Resort on March 21, 2015 to benefit Golisano Children’s Hospital of Southwest Florida.  SanCap Cares reached its five year, $10 million commitment to Golisano Children's Hospital’s capital campaign for the new freestanding facility, adjacent to HealthPark, scheduled to open in Spring 2017.  At the beginning of this season, they were $6 million toward their goal; In just the past two months, with sponsorships, capital campaign gifts, and Saturday evening's event at South Seas Island Resort's Captiva Ballroom, an additional $4 million was raised, completing the goal. 

    Thanks to SanCap Cares’ efforts, the new pediatric emergency department will be named after the Sanibel and Captiva communities. The emergency department will be larger than the current one, with state of the art technology designed especially for children.     

    The biggest star of the evening was Marty Harrity, SanCap Cares’ annual auctioneer extraordinaire, who made a grand entrance as the one and only Liberace. With a long flowing rhinestone and feathered cape, the Sanibel Island councilman entertained and encouraged the group to raise their auction paddles for a great cause. 

    Thanks to SanCap Cares co-chairs Paula Bentinck-Smith, Amanda Cross and Susie Peltzman, and their dedicated committee, the annual gala was an elegant evening celebrating the realization of a dream started 15 years ago by a group of caring Sanibel moms. 

    The evening was filled with additional shining stars; Sanibel Captiva Trust was the Master Sponsor for the twelfth year; Corporate Sponsors, South Seas Island Resort and PSAV provided endless audio/video and convention services which made the evening spectacular.  

    The Captiva Ballroom lit up during the live auction as patrons bid on a diamond ring from Congress Jewelers, a beautiful Roseate Spoonbill hand-carved by Jim Sprankle, an original piece of art by Darryl Pottorf, and the ever-popular “Name That Drink” from Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grille. Funds raised during the special Give-to-Give live auction will provide three dedicated Pediatric Neurology Epilepsy Monitoring Units in the new hospital. These specially designed rooms will monitor, evaluate and even induce seizures in young patients who are experiencing neurological issues. In addition, guests pledged anywhere from $50 to $71,000 toward specific equipment needed in the new hospital, some of which was brought to the event and demonstrated by hospital staff.

    The generosity and energy from the 15th Anniversary Island Celebration will shine brightly over Sanibel and Captiva for a long time.


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