Spring Flings

Be sure to take a break from your spring cleaning and sports chauffeuring calendar and enjoy a little fun in the next couple months. Our Golden Isles non-profit organizations have several opportunities that offer entertainment and excitement while you support worthy causes. From magical musical evenings to outdoor adventures and a classic tradition, there’s something for everyone. Check the online calendar on the Elegant Island Living website at elegantislandliving.net for additional information and more community events. We’re updating it constantly and it is FULL!

Champions for Children – Safe Harbor Children’s Center

Let’s start with a campaign for the kids that has already begun. Chaired by Kate Dart, Lizzie Piazza, and Bentley Kaufman, the 2004 Champions for Children initiative brings together local leaders from diverse sectors of our community for a creative and spirited competition, all in support of Safe Harbor Children’s Center and its mission to uplift at-risk children and families in Coastal Georgia. This 8-week fundraising challenge that empowers participants to use their creativity, passion, and networks to make a real difference. Each Champion, armed with a $500 stipend, organizes unique micro-events—from elegant private dinners to engaging community activities—turning every occasion into an opportunity to support Safe Harbor’s vital mission of promoting stability and security for at-risk families, children, and youth.

The 2024 Champions are Mary Katelyn Bland, Brooke Carter, Gina Copeland, Kyle Fox, Chris Gantt, Rowdy Gregg, Maggie Hughes, Jonathan Jerusalmy, Ken King & Jimmie Nell Tate, Chris Templeton, Megan Torello, Jacquie Wheeler, Ciera Womack, and Heather Woodard. Victory in this competition is measured by impact. As the Champions rally the community to donate, each dollar they raise contributes to their final campaign tally and is a powerful “vote” toward crowning the Ultimate Champion for Children. The online leaderboard tracks each Champion’s progress, fueling a friendly yet competitive and exciting atmosphere. The Champions’ micro-events have already begun and include art shows, private cocktail parties, and raffle extravaganzas taking place through April, so check their calendar on the Safe Harbor website.

The campaign will culminate in a grand celebration at Queen and Grant in Historic Downtown Brunswick on April 25 from 5:30-8:00 p.m. The Champions for Children Grand Culmination Event will feature live entertainment, refreshments, and provide an opportunity for the community to come together to celebrate the campaign’s achievements and recognize the dedication of our Champions and their collective impact within the community. To learn more, follow your favorite Champion, see the calendar of micro-events, get your tickets to the Grand Culmination Event, and join the campaign, visit safeharborchampionsforchildren.org. Together, we can celebrate generosity, creativity, and the power of community while championing change and building a brighter future for the children and youth of Southeast Georgia!

Cureoke 2024 – American Cancer Society Victory Board

Turning to musical events, there’s another crew of community champions you’ll want to see in action on Friday, April 19. Join the American Cancer Society Victory Board for Cureoke 2024 in the Tree Bar at Bennie’s Red Barn. Once again creative and courageous community members will become champions for the fight against cancer by showing off their musical talents and raising funds to support cancer treatment and research for a cure. Plan to be there for a fun-filled night of performances beginning at 8:00 p.m.

You’ll have the ability to vote for your favorite singers and participate in a raffle that includes more than $1,000 worth of local restaurant gift cards and a round of golf for four at Sea Palms Resort. Last year’s event raised $40,000 and they’d love to top that this year! If you’re curious about who’s participating, we can give you a little teaser. The always entertaining Daryle Mizelle will be returning to perform again this year. CPM Event Services has three teams gearing up for competition. Halyards Restaurant Group is creating a team in support of longtime employee Carol, who was recently diagnosed with cancer. Cureoke 2024 tickets are $50 each and include two drinks. Tickets are limited, so purchase online now at cureoke24.givesmart.com. Find updates about the event, participants, and any additional raffle items by following the ACS Victory Board on Instagram. It’s going to be a rockin’ good time!

Tripling the Impact Tripletail Classic and Band Party – Communities in Schools of Glynn

If you want a little fishing to go with your tunes, join Communities in Schools of Glynn for their 2nd Annual "Tripling the Impact" Tripletail Classic on Saturday, April 27. Enjoy a day on the water and a night of community celebration and dancing that will benefit CIS of Glynn and the at-risk students of the Glynn and McIntosh County School Systems. Funds raised from the tournament will directly support CIS' mission to supply students with whatever they need to be successful in school, continue to the next grade level or graduate, and achieve in life. CIS of Glynn works diligently to keep promotion rates high from the elementary to high school level, including at the Golden Isles College and Career Academy campus, and has successfully kept graduation rates at 100% for the majority of their nearly 20 years of service dedicated to students in Glynn County, and now in McIntosh County.

The day will start and end in the beautiful setting of Morningstar Marina on St. Simons Island. Teams will be "lines-in" at 7:00 a.m. and return to the marina for a weigh-in at 4:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the biggest fish in first, second and third places. The Band Party will begin at 5:00 p.m. Popular local 80s cover band Squirt Gun will provide the music to celebrate a beautiful day on the water and they always get people dancing and singing along. Drinks will be available for purchase and City Market will be serving up a dinner of coastal fare, so you know it’ll be good. This is sure to be a fun evening for the whole family, so whether you fish or not, plan to bring the family out to enjoy the party.

To learn more about the tournament, sign up your angling team, purchase band party tickets, or become a sponsor, visit cisofglynn.org/tripletail-classic.

Music and Memories – Memory Matters Glynn

You can never get enough music! So don’t sleep on this year’s Music and Memories event benefiting Memory Matters Glynn. Help this small but important non-profit organization celebrate 30 years of providing free service to local families dealing with dementia by attending or becoming a sponsor for this fabulous event on Sunday, April 28 at the A.W. Jones Heritage Center under the lighthouse on St. Simons Island.

Because music is something that creates lasting memories and stirs emotions in a way nothing else does, it is the focal point of this annual fundraiser for Memory Matters Glynn. Things kick off at 5:00 p.m. and will get hot, hot, hot when Hot Banana Coffee hits the stage to serve up contemporary tunes. Sax man and singer Michael Hulett will liven up the courtyard with jazz and oldies. DJ Yolanda Neely will add her talents to the mix by taking requests and spinning the hits for those who want to dance the night away. Halyards Restaurant Group will be serving up the deliciousness and drinks. There’s even a tasty signature peach cocktail made specially for the evening, and you already know we’re fans of that!

Other fun includes the Stock the Bar Raffle, sponsored by Glow Coastal Med Spa, which features wine, liquor, wine glasses, and other bar accessories. Tickets are $25 and only 200 will be sold. There will also be a live auction featuring some terrific items, including a golf package from Sea Island and a Kettle Package from Sea Island Forge. The silent auction has an amazing array of prize packages too. Another popular feature from last year’s event that is making a return is the wine toss. No one needs to go home empty handed!

What makes your support so important? The fact that the services offered within our community by Memory Matters Glynn are not only unique, but they are provided at absolutely no charge to individuals dealing with illness related memory loss and their families and caregivers. They aid those dealing with dementia, including Lewy body, frontotemporal, and vascular; Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases; and traumatic brain injury. They also provide support for people who take care of loved ones with memory issues at home either because they want to or because they cannot afford an assisted living or memory care community. Memory Matters Glynn is the only local organization providing these services and they do it without any government or agency funding. They are dependent on money raised through community fundraisers like this and the Golden Isles Alzheimer’s Walk, private donations, and grants.

At the Memory Matters house in Brunswick, they host a variety of activities designed to stimulate brain function and encourage social interaction, including monthly theme parties, art and crafts, movie time, bingo, yoga, and music afternoons. They also offer counseling sessions for caregivers and those newly diagnosed with illness related memory loss. Miranda Elliot from Hospice of the Golden Isles provides counseling on the third Monday of each month, while Dale Tushman is the counselor on the fourth Friday every month. Memory Matters facilitates support group meetings for caregivers called Caregiver Connections as well. The Caregiver Connections meetings provide helpful networking and act as a circle of comfort and empathy. Caregiver Connections meetings are held on St. Simons Island, Jekyll Island, in Brunswick and Darien.

For a full list of times and dates for counseling sessions, Caregiver Connections meetings at all locations, a calendar showing all of the free events offered by Memory Matters each month, and more detailed information about their services, visit their website at memorymattersglynn.com. While you’re there, hit the Music and Memories tab and purchase your tickets to attend the April 28 event! Tickets are $125 and your support is greatly appreciated. Sponsorship opportunities are still available as well. If you’d like to become a sponsor or donate to the auction, call 912.264.0777.

Derby Day – Frederica Academy

Arguably one of the most eagerly anticipated parties of the season is Frederica Academy’s Derby Day event. Ladies are already shopping for new hats or getting inspired and fashioning festive creations of their own so they can promenade in style during the hat parade. As if the appeal of this thrilling annual “day at the races” (albeit a simulcast from Churchill Downs) isn’t enough, there is additional impetus for attending the event on Saturday, March 4, this year.

Frederica Academy is currently in the “home stretch” of the school’s Gateway Capital Campaign that will fund Sapp Hall renovations to kitchen, dining area, and stage, and new facilities and renovations at the Watson Baseball Complex. Your support as a sponsor of the 2024 Derby Day signature fundraiser will help them cross the Gateway Campaign finish line and allow the school to begin construction over summer break in advance of the new academic year in the fall.

Co-chairs Lauren & Patrick Lavin and Susan & Patrick Dunn encourage your participation as Derby Day sponsors this year and will welcome you to the festivities at the Frederica Golf Clubhouse on St. Simons Island when the doors open at 5:00 p.m. Joining Frederica Golf Club as a Presenting Sponsor for this evening of excitement is Beachview Event Rentals & Design.

In addition to the simulcast of the Kentucky Derby, there will be a mouthwatering array of culinary delights, free-flowing mint juleps, music from SaltWater Gypseas, and the lively bidding that takes place during the live auction. Live auction packages will be announced in April, and all bidding for them will take place at the event. Items up for bid in the silent auction can be accessed via the event website and will be available for online bidding from Sunday, April 28, through Sunday, May 5. This year’s Derby Day raffle prize will be announced very soon, so stay tuned for details.

Save the date. Schedule a sitter. Dust off the seersucker suits and fluff up your fascinators. Get ready to join the festivities by purchasing your sponsorship package and 2024 Derby Day merchandise on the event site at FADerby.givesmart.com.