Page 70 - May-June-July Life In Naples
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ROOKERY BAY
FRIENDS OF ROOKERY BAY’S
BATFISH BASH
BREAKS FUND-RAISING RECORD,
Reels in $140,000 for Research and Education
T he Friends of Rookery Bay held their seventh annual fundraiser, CARLA AND CRAIG SEIBERT WITH SHARK
the Batfish Bash for the Bay at the Rookery Bay Environmental
Learning Center in Naples. Two hundred and twenty guests the local surroundings while fishing with television celebrity
enjoyed a silent auction amidst the aquariums and art gallery, sunset Roland Martin, or enjoying kayak tours, dinner deals, rounds
and cocktails overlooking Henderson Creek, and dinner, followed by of golf, wine tastings and more, all courtesy of local hotels,
a live auction and dancing, on the center’s back lawn. The event raised tour providers and other supporters.
$140,000 to support programs at Rookery Bay Reserve, setting a new
fundraising record. A special live auction category called “Fund-a-Need”
raised $12,000 for shark and sawfish research in Southwest
The Friends of Rookery Bay (FORB) is the non-profit organization Florida.
that has been working to support the mission of the Rookery Bay National
Estuarine Research Reserve since 1987. The Rookery Bay Reserve protects “Working with research partners such as Mote Marine
110,000 acres of coastal lands and waters between Naples and Everglades Laboratory will help fill gaps in our collective understanding
National Park, providing essential habitat and refuge for coastal birds, fish of shark and sawfish behavior and habitat needs,” said Keith
and marine wildlife, while supporting local businesses through tourism, Laakkonen, the reserve’s director. “We are already catching
sport fishing and commercial harvest. sawfish that are part of our shark study, so the new listening
stations we can now install in our waters will provide
“The evening was a great success on all counts,” said Craig Seibert, important clues to how juvenile sawfish are moving along our
president of the FORB board. “Even though the rain held off, the addition coast,” he added.
of the tent this year made the event more enjoyable for all,” he concluded.
Sponsors for the event included Minto, Arthrex, First
Silent auction items amidst the two-story exhibit hall delighted Florida Integrity Bank, Hamilton Harbor, J.R. Evans
auction enthusiasts as they sipped on their Batfish Brew (the event’s Engineering, Horizons Rentals and RGB Internet Systems.
signature drink) while servers passed hors d’oeuvres. Under the tent, event
participants enjoyed a delicious and memorable dining experience and live Proceeds from the Batfish Bash for the Bay support
music and dancing with a local band. Bidders competed for their chance the Reserve’s education programs, research, and habitat
to experience amazing getaways to places like Belize and Kennebunkport, management. For more information about the Rookery Bay
Maine, as well as many great “staycations” and other opportunities to enjoy Reserve or Friends of Rookery Bay visit www.rookerybay.org.
GARY LYTTON, KEITH LAAKKONEN, ELLEN PRAGER, CHRIS LOMBARDO
70 Life in Naples | May • June • July 2016
