Arts for ACT Gala & Auction scheduled for March 4

Arts for ACT Gala & Auction scheduled for March 4

Come dressed as your favorite classic TV character and

enjoy a Night in TV Land to support a violence-free community

FORT MYERS, Fla. (Dec. 13, 2022) — Hurricane Ian may have pushed the date, but the 34th annual Arts for ACT Gala and Auction is coming back stronger than ever! Southwest Florida is resilient and the excitement for this event has only grown! Back in person for the first time since the pandemic, Arts for ACT is stepping back in time to enjoy A Night in TV Land on March 4, at the Caloosa Sound Convention Center. This signature community event will throw back to some of the greatest classics ever made for an evening of fun and fundraising. Dress as your favorite TV character of yesteryear. Whether you come as Fonzie from Happy Days, Jeannie from I Dream of Jeannie, or Fred and Wilma from the Flintstones, come on out to have some fun, win some prizes and help us set the stage for zero tolerance of abuse and support our local survivors.

“Our mission is to protect and empower victims of abuse in our community, and the Arts for ACT Gala helps raise the critical funds necessary to do just that,” says Jennifer L. Benton, CEO of Abuse Counseling and Treatment (ACT). “There is an increased rate of violence because of the pandemic, doubling requests for our services and creating more obstacles for victims in our community. That’s why it means a lot to us to be able to host an in-person event and bring the entire community together to show survivors how many people truly care about them and their children.” 

This must-attend who’s who annual charity event is chaired by Marc Collins and Marilyn Santiago. The highly anticipated live art and luxury item auction will be led by renowned auctioneer Scott Robertson, with Master of Ceremonies, Kellie Burns, Evening Anchor, NBC2. Prizes include luxury excursions, hotel stays, and art donated by many award-winning local, national, and international artists. The silent auction will be filled with other wonderful items thanks to the generous contributions of local business owners.

Reserve your seats or VIP table and come dance the night away with friends, join in the costume contest, sip cocktails, dine, and bid on your favorite items. You may want to try a Dreamsicle, the signature drink of the night sponsored by Millennial Brewing.

Arts for ACT is sponsored in part by First Horizon Foundation; Fort Myers Auto Park; Florida Weekly; The Bireley Foundation; CONRIC pr + marketing; Diamond Girl Marketing; Blue Waters Development Group, LLC; Garramone Plastic Surgery Studio; Gulfshore Life; Harold’s Restaurant; Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Millennial Brewing Company. Proceeds from the event go directly to support ACT’s free, safe and confidential services for survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking. Tickets can be purchased online at https://event.gives/artsforact2022. The pre-show starts at 5:30 p.m., and the live auction begins at 7 p.m.

Guests are encouraged to wear their favorite TV character’s costume or semi-formal attire. Check out the event on Facebook, or contact CEO Jennifer Benton at 239-939-2553 or [email protected] to donate, become a sponsor, or learn more. In the words of the Golden Girls, “Thank you for being a friend!”

About Arts for ACT 

Since 1974, ACT’s mission has been to protect, support, educate, and empower victims of domestic violence and their children, survivors of sexual assault and human trafficking in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties. ACT provides 100% free, safe, and confidential services; it all starts with a call to ACT’s 24/7 Helpline: 239-939-3112. Visit www.actabuse.com to learn more.