Dining for the STARs Lights Up the Night

Dining for the STARs Co-chairs Rochelle Shucart (left) and Jennifer Haire (right) with Crave Culinaire Chef Brian Roland at the Polynesian Nights-themed dinner hosted by Gordon and Barbie Kellam.

Donors raised over $1,030,000 to support the STARability Foundation’s premier virtual event, Dining for the STARs. The fundraiser featured nearly 20 dinners in private homes and restaurants across Collier County with watch parties hosted by supporters in Old Naples and elsewhere including Miami and New York.

“We have learned that when we come together as a community we can accomplish so much,” said Rochelle Shucart, who co-chaired the event with Jennifer Haire. “I am most thankful to the wonderful hosts who dedicated their time and opened their homes for these dinners.”

About 600 people participated in the event, which replaced STARability’s annual STAR Gala because of COVID-19.STARability serves individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“The continued support of the dinner hosts, sponsors and donors will ensure that our participants can keep learning and engaging with their community, especially now,” said STARability CEO Karen Govern.

At Tim and Stephanie Savage’s Off to the Races-themed dinner, Tim Savage even auctioned off his tie, which raised an additional $5,000 for STARability!

The STARability Foundation exists to Support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing life transforming opportunities that emphasize Teamwork and connection to the community to build Awareness and Respect for their individual abilities. A professional staff and more than100 volunteers deliver a full calendar of engaging, innovative and creative programs to ensure that participants can live their best lives.

 

John Cooney, STARability advisory board member, and Carrie Cooney, STARability board of directors Vice President, hosted an Under the Sea and Stars-themed dinner at Hamilton Harbor Yacht Club.

The Chef de Cuisine/Title Sponsor of the evening was Stofft Cooney Architects. Other sponsors and underwriters who made Dining for the STARs possible were: Waterside Shops; Calusa Bay Design; Knauf-Koenig Group; Kurtz Homes Naples, Momentum Transportation; Morgan Stanley Private Wealth Management; Newbury North Associates; Structure Medical; Tina and Ralph Goldin; Accanito Capital Group; Maxwell Mortgage Team; Old Republic National Title Insurance Company; Premiere Systems; Rafat and Zoreen Ansari Charitable Foundation; Woods, Weidenmiller, Michetti & Rudnick, LLP; Blue Fox; Collier Enterprises; Diamond Custom Homes; FineMark National Bank & Trust; First Florida Integrity Bank; Investment Properties Corporation of Naples; Stock Development; Wynn Properties; Matthew and Laura Grabinski; U.S Bank; AlliKrisite Fine Cabinetry, & Remodeling, BCB Homes, Connor & Gaskins Unlimited; Lisa Kahn Designs; and Gulf Coast Properties.

Paul and Marnette Perry (left) co-hosted a Roaring ’20s-themed dinner with Lisa Ficarra (second from right, with Dave Soulliere)

Photos by Vicki Baker,
Louis Venne and Helen Werner

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