Guadalupe Center raised an impressive $1.2 million at its Old Hollywood Signature Event, funds that directly support the center’s educational programs in Immokalee. “Old Hollywood: The Glitz, The Glamour, The Giving” was held Jan. 17 at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples. More than 450 sponsors, supporters, students and staff members attended the gala, dinner and live auction. “We are so grateful to continue enjoying the support of so many generous individuals, businesses and organizations,” said Dawn Montecalvo, president of Guadalupe Center. “Many of our loyal donors made additional gifts beyond their existing pledges, and we were delighted to showcase our outstanding education programs to the new supporters and sponsors in attendance. The money raised at Old Hollywood, as well as our upcoming Charity Golf Classic, will help change lives for the children of Immokalee.”
Guadalupe Center’s mission is to break the cycle of poverty through education for the children of Immokalee. The nonprofit organization offers three highly successful educational programs: Early Childhood Education, After-school Tutoring & Summer Enrichment, and Tutor Corps. Naples resident Mary McCabe chaired Old Hollywood, a position she also held in 2015 and 2016. Combined, the three events she’s spearheaded have raised $3.9 million for Guadalupe Center.
The signature event is Guadalupe Center’s largest fundraising event each year. Guests at Old Hollywood arrived to a cocktail reception, where they struck up conversations with Immokalee High School students in the college-preparatory Tutor Corps program. Warren Priske’s Old Hollywood Swing Band, based in Los Angeles, provided the entertainment. Following an epicurean feast, patrons listened to a compelling, heartfelt personal story from Tutor Corps student Christian Soriano-Reyes, who ranks second in his class at Immokalee High School and plans to attend Arcadia University in the fall. The lively auction featured guided trips to Italy, England and Sonoma Wine Country, as well as Super Bowl tickets and a chef- and vintner-hosted cocktail party for 30. Guadalupe Center also held a raffle for an eight-day Tauck Danube Reflections river cruise for two from Munich, Germany, to Vienna, Austria.
Old Hollywood sponsors included London Bay Homes, TD Ameritrade, Seminole Casino, Gulfshore Life, Naples Daily News, The Moglia Family Foundation on behalf of Amy and Paul Heuerman, Beasley Media Group, Huntington Private Bank, JP Morgan Chase & Co., Merrill Lynch Private Bank, The Ibarra Calleja Group at Morgan Stanley and Univision Southwest Florida. Auction sponsors included Fisher Vineyards, Flambeaux Winery, Grand Cru Custom Crush, Jeff Heuerman, LANDO Wines, Preferred Travel of Naples, Retour Wines, Tastebuds Custom Catering, Waterside Shops and Tauck. For more information on Guadalupe Center’s future fundraising events, please visit www.GuadalupeCenter.org or call 239-657-7711.
