Social Seens... Photography by Gram
Florida Gulf Coast Hope Spot
The Launch Celebration of the newly designated Florida Gulf Coast Hope Spot was a reception of local restaurant tastes and
updates from environmentally conscious groups that included Mission Blue, Blue-Green Connections, the Tampa Bay Estuary
Program, The Florida Aquarium in Tampa, plus Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota. The evening’s special guest
was scientist Dr. Sylvia Earle, Time Magazine’s first Hero of the Planet and National Geographic’s Explorer in Residence, who grew up
in Dunedin. She has been instrumental in establishing The Florida Gulf Coast Hope Spot, which is composed of the environmentally
fragile Gulf of Mexico area that extends 100 to 200 miles offshore between Apalachicola Bay to our north and Cape Romano’s Ten
Thousand Islands Aquatic Preserve to our south.
Photography by Gram
Charity Works Goes Gourmet
Charity Works, which has the mission of “helping those who help others,” held its eighth annual fundraising dinner at Cafe
Ponte in Clearwater. Chris Renfrow, president and CEO of Charity Works, thanked supportive attendees, including The Honorable
Frank Hibbard, who was the honorary chair for the group’s 2019 Monopoly Night benefit with his wife Teresa; former radio
and television broadcaster John Wilson, who served as auctioneer; Tampa Bay Magazine’s Margaret Word Burnside, who was the
evening’s honorary chair; Cafe Ponte for providing the gourmet dining experience; and Republic National Distributing Company
for sponsoring the wine. Proceeds from the fundraiser help Charity Works’ Give Hope USA, a wellness-medical aid program
that provides needed distributions of personal hygiene products, including dental kits and other special gifts for economically
disadvantaged children and adults in the Tampa Bay area.
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 161
Ray Bouchard, one of Hope Spot’s original
champions, thanked legendary oceanographer
and Mission Blue’s founder, Dr. Sylvia Earle
for her worldwide conservation efforts.
Dr. Cynthia Huffman and her husband,
Dr. Mike Evans of Dunedin, support the work
being done to sustain and restore our Gulf
Coast’s fragile interconnected ecosystems.
Dunedin’s City Manager Jennifer Bramley
and its Mayor Julie Bujalski were proud that
Dunedin has been designated the Florida Gulf
Coast Hope Spot’s Host City by Mission Blue.
Jeanie Renfrow and her husband Chris,
president and CEO of Charity Works, thanked
supporters for helping Charity Works save
time and money for other charities.
Drs. Michael and Pamela Adams have
continually helped Charity Works by offering
dental kits and hygiene necessities for
distribution to those in need.
George and Kim Feaster support Charity
Works and the not-for-profits it provides
with much-needed goods and services in the
Tampa Bay community.