Thank you to everyone who helped make “Havana Nights” a success!

Monday, September 24, 2012

Saturday night's Hammers & Heartstrings Gala attracted enthusiastic Habitat Pinellas supporters who enjoyed the "Havana Nights" themed party atmosphere and casino style game tables at the beautiful Sandpearl Resort. Many thanks to event patrons HSN, Quorum Services and Bayfront Medical Center, as well as our lovely mistress of ceremonies, ABC Action News anchor Deiah Riley.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all who attended in support of this very important fundraiser, which has funded 10 Habitat homes since the 2007 inaugural event!

Guests enjoyed the culinary talent of Sandpearl executive chef Steve Jordan, beginning with tasty passed appetizers during the cocktail hour, and later, delicious Seafood Paella, Pork Loin with Spicy Tropical Fruit, and Mango Chutney Chicken and Coconut Rice, with flan, cheesecake and Bacardi rum cake for a sweet ending.

The crowd was welcomed by Deiah Riley, and treated to a brief video created by our own Ron Spoor (Habitat Pinellas Chief Operations Officer). Habitat Board member Tamara Davis shared how owning a Habitat home has impacted her family. Thank you Ron and Tamara for your effective messages that zeroed in on the very essence of Habitat's program.

The live auction featured exciting trips to Paris, Tuscany, Ireland and the Napa wine country, as well as one unbelievably cute puppy! Thank you and congratulations to all of our winning bidders!

PATRON SUPPORT.  Patrons are the backbone of our event and factor heavily into the success of our Hammers and Heartstrings fundraiser each year.  We recognize the generosity of our patons and inkind sponsors and are immensely grateful for their support:

Platinum Patron:  HSN, Quorum Services

Gold Patron:  Bayfront Medical Center

Silver Patrons: Adamo & Associates Realty Executives, EverBank, Florida Forest Products, Joe and Gina Fontana, Hill Ward Henderson, Mary-Ellen Howells, Scott and Julie Klavans, Pinellas County Housing Authority, Progress Energy, and Skip and Vicki Tylman.

Gaming Table Sponsors:  Adamo & Associates Realty Executives, EverBank, Habitat Pinellas Board of Directors, Progress Energy, Proficio Mortgage, and ReMax/Jason Miller.

Inkind Sponsors:  A Casino Event, Shelley Digmun (photographer), Normans Liqours and Fine Cigars, J.C. Newman Cigar Company, Redman Steele Floral Design Studio and the Sandpearl Resort

Last but not least, we thank our Hammers & Heartstrings Gala organizing committee including, Chair Andrea Wilson, Mary-Ellen Howells, Jane Nunnelly, Leyla Tremaine, Vicki Tylman, and our Development Manager Kristy Walby.  Thank you to each and every volunteer who helped staff the event, including set-up and break-down. Special thanks to our V.P. of Construction, Ken Rush, and his trusty team for building the awesome "lamp posts" that served as signs for our gaming table sponsors.

PHOTOS: Above, left, Deiah Riley, anchor, ABC Action News. Above, right, two couples enjoy one of several gaming tables. Check back soon for the link to our Havana Nights Picasa online photo album!