Swashbuckling pirates, stunning mermaids, celebrities and sea turtles unite for Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s 10th Annual Lights Out Gala

A sea-faring crew of over 300 passionate conservationists attended Loggerhead Marinelife Center’s 10th Annual Lights Out Gala: Swashbuckler’s Soirée on Friday, Jan. 27, raising critical funds for the Center’s mission of sea turtle and ocean conservation.

Guests – some dressed in festive pirate costumes and some in coastal chic attire – spent an enchanted evening rubbing elbows with conservation royalty.  Jungle Jack and Suzi Hanna, a conservation ambassador for the Center and Fabien Cousteau, grandson of the late Jacques Cousteau and judge for the Center’s Go Blue Awards Luncheon were among the guests at the annual fundraising event.

Guests enjoyed creative cocktails alongside the Center’s adorable sea turtle patients in the outdoor sea turtle recovery hospital, where informative talks with LMC staff and volunteers were offered. Guests enjoyed exclusive access to LMC’s ultra-advanced sea turtle hospital, where they were provided with an up close look at life-saving therapies, advanced equipment and demonstrations provided by hospital staff.

“This year we celebrated a full decade of hosting our Lights Out Gala,” said Jack Lighton, LMC president & CEO. “Our two extraordinary co-chairs Roe Green and John Couris, along with the help of our sponsors and guests, set the stage for our Center’s most successful event to date which included the launch of our capital expansion.”

After cocktails, guests moved into the gala structure, “the Black Pearl” to enjoy ravishing pirate-inspired entertainment produced by the Maltz Jupiter Theatre, a gourmet plated dinner prepared by Sandy James Catering, a silent auction of luxurious treasures and more. During dinner, LMC executive staff and board members shared a special surprise video with guests, publicly revealing the Center’s expansion plans and detailing the Center’s Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign.

“I live my life under the three T’s; it’s a trifecta – theater, travel and turtles,” said Roe Green, honorary co-chair of Lights Out and LMC board member. “What more could you want? We are here tonight to celebrate LMC, their contributions to our community and to our oceans. With success comes responsibility – won’t you join me in saving these sea turtles and their ocean home?”

Ms. Green then shared with the crowd that The Roe Green Foundation will give a generous community matching grant of $250,000 to accelerate the capital campaign.

“Roe Green is a tremendous visionary and trusted philanthropist,” said Mr. Lighton. “To have her support and investment in our Center’s next chapter is a wonderful endorsement of our work. In essence, Roe has enabled us to raise $500,000 towards our campaign and for that we are extraordinarily grateful.”

After the exciting announcements, guests enjoyed delectable deserts and danced the night away to the hottest tunes performed by a lively pirate-inspired band.

For more information about LMC’s Waves of Progress capital expansion campaign, please visit www.marinelife.org/about/expansion/.

The Lights Out Gala is named in honor of sea turtle nesting season, which runs from March 1 to Oct. 31 every year in Palm Beach County. For more information on keeping our beaches safer for nesting sea turtles and their hatchlings, please visit www.marinelife.org/nesting.

PNC Bank was the presenting sponsor of Lights Out for the fifth consecutive year. Additional sponsors included: Saks 5th Avenue; Gordon and Patricia Gray; Susan Johnson; Bruce Beal; Pratt & Whitney; The Gardens Mall; Eavenson, Fraser, Lunsford & Ivan PLLC; Jupiter Medical Center; Roe Green; Gunster; Sam and Meg Woodside; Betsy Munson; FPL; Loggerhead Marina; Tequesta Insurance Advisors; WLS Vitamins & Dr. and Mrs. Jefferson Vaughan; Bob Chlebek & Sandy Humbert; Pete & Lynne Wells; Koko FitClub of Abacoa Plaza; Alacrity Entertainment; Sandy James Fine Food & Production; Via Productions; Palm Beach Illustrated; Papas Pilar; Hamilton Jewelers; The Hunting Family Foundation; Caler, Donten, Levine, Cohen, Porter & Veil, P.A.; Dante Colussy and Connie Gordon; Nuvista Living; AW Property Co.; On the Mark Landscaping, LLC; Tito’s Handmade Vodka; Stewart Materials; Saltwater Brewery; and Interiors by G.