FORT MYERS, Fla. (Feb. 4, 2015) – The 10th Annual Evening with the Red Sox dinner and auction will offer a unique list of silent and live auction items this year including exciting trips to major cities, sports memorabilia packages, theme park passes, golf outings and more.
Featured live auction showcases include a once-in-a-lifetime trip for four to the city of Boston featuring Fenway Park seats on the famed “Green Monster,” a private VIP tour of the ballpark, on-field access, hotel accommodations and round-trip airfare; the “Celebrate Chicago” package featuring a trip to the Windy City with a meet and greet with Chicago White Sox standout pitcher and Florida Gulf Coast University alumnus Chris Sale; “The Red Dinner” for the culinary enthusiast featuring a private wine dinner at Cru at the Bell Tower Shops and a luxury trip for two to Napa Valley; and “You Got Signed – The Life of an MLB Player” package featuring a week in a Jaguar or Range Rover, a premium dining experience with limousine transportation and a stay in Miami, among other life luxuries that often accompany a high-end Major League Baseball contract.
For the sports collectors, this year’s auction offers a collection autographed by heroes of the 2004 World Series. The “Reverse the Curse” themed lot includes autographed items by fan-favorites Jason Varitek, Trot Nixon, Pedro Martinez and Kevin Millar. Former Boston Red Sox star pitcher Derek Lowe, who is scheduled to attend the event, will also host a dinner for four as part of his special auction lot. Lowe will treat the highest bidder and guests to his experiences leading up to the championship and what it was like to be in a parade that shut down the city of Boston.
The silent auction will feature additional collector-level sports memorabilia hand-signed by Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and more, premium sporting event tickets, arts and theater experiences, luxury goods, and an abundance of hotel stays at some of Florida’s most beautiful hotels in Miami, St. Augustine, St. Petersburg, Sanibel Island, Tampa and the Keys.
“In celebrating ten years, we have put together some of the best auction items we have ever offered and have a very special program planned for our attendees,” said Jim Larkin, co-chairperson for the event and board member of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lee County.
Benefiting the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County, the annual Evening with the Red Sox will be held on Monday, March 2 at JetBlue Park at Fenway South located at 11500 Fenway South Drive in Fort Myers. The evening will begin at 5:30 and include a cocktail reception with hors d’oeuvres, beer and wine, silent and live auctions, dinner and autograph signings from Red Sox players. Last year’s event included autograph signings by Craig Breslow, Mike Carp and Will Middlebrooks.
Joe Castiglione, radio announcer for the Red Sox, author and lecturer, has signed on as event emcee.
Presenting sponsors for this year’s event are Allstate Insurance and Ted Todd Insurance. Additional sponsors include Bell Tower Shops, Coca-Cola Company, Crowne Plaza Hotel at the Bell Tower Shops, CVS Pharmacy, Devitt & Smith, Diversified Yacht Services, Dr. Garramone, Encore Bank, Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida Power & Light Company, Hoover & Associates, Housing Authority of the City of Fort Myers, Jaguar, JetBlue Airways, Morgan Stanley, Owen-Ames-Kimball, Perfect Game in Ft. Myers, Pools Pros, Inc. and Aqua Illusions, Priority Payment Systems, Quattrone & Associates, Red Sox Foundation, Ron’s Painting, St. John’s Insurance, Suncoast Beverage, TECO Energy, UBS Financial Services, Inc., and Universal Insurance.
Sponsorships and tables are still available from $1,250 to $10,000. Donations for auction items are also being accepted. For more information or to become a sponsor, contact Shannon Lane at 239-334-1886 or slane@bgclc.net.
Individual tickets for the event are $200 per person.
Funds raised during the event provide more than 30,000 hours of service to more than 420 young people in our community who are a part of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County. Last year, more than 1,300 youth demonstrated academic success, character and leadership and healthy lifestyles from the agency’s programs.
Celebrating 40 years of providing quality youth programs and brighter futures for young people in the Lee County community, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Lee County works to inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens. The BGCLC strives to provide a safe, world-class Club experience that assures success is within reach of every young person who walks through its doors. The organization envisions all of its members graduating high school with a plan for the future, demonstrating good character, citizenship while adapting a healthy lifestyle.
The area’s five Clubs are located in communities with the greatest need where similar services are limited or nonexistent. Membership dues are $10 per school year so that all children can have access to its programs. The BGCLC relies upon the philanthropic support of individuals, corporations and foundations in order to sustain and grow its services.
For more information or to register for the event, contact Shannon Lane at 239-334-1886 or slane@bgclc.net.
