Kids’ Water Safety Key to YMCA’s Annual Gala

Dan and Lupe Mercier enjoy a portrait.

Deborah Passero, one of the top donors of the evening, shows the mood of the gala as the music kicks in.

Pan Paradise Steel Drum Band member, Jerry Jerome, drums as the evening switches to dancing.

Tom Berichon, Mike Tellman and Kevin Sorem dress appropriately for the gala.

Jocelyn Santos was among a group of young Y members who welcomed guests.

Mindy Star and Victoria Hanifin would eventually get the dance floor to fill up.

Former snowboarding star and motivational speaker for Sports World, Tom Gilles, exhorts donations from the floor.

Tom and Eileen Berichon swirl on the dance floor.

Posted Wednesday, February 23, 2022 7:00 pm

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By Quentin Roux

It was all about having fun for a serious cause at the YMCA of Collier County’s annual Tropical Paradise Gala over the weekend.

The fun part was the Caribbean music and dress theme, and the serious part was that money raised goes towards kids’ safety around water - or more specifically, drowning prevention.

Held at Marco’s JW Marriott, the gala raised thousands of dollars through ticket prices, a silent auction and live pledges of specific amounts ranging from $10,000 down to $100.

Guest speaker and former snowboard champion, Tom Gilles, made spirited and earnest pleas for contributions, telling attendees they had “one life to live, and one life to give,” and that hundreds of children would benefit from the ongoing water safety programs at the Y.

Gilles, who had the audience chuckling with some of his anecdotes, said donors can rest assured that “money you invest will make a difference to someone’s life.”

Board Chair Ashley Lupo said the Y’s many programs - including the water safety initiatives - impact the lives of thousands of people in Southwest Florida, including Naples, Marco, Goodland, East Naples, Golden Gate and Everglades City.

Pictured are some of the moments that characterized the evening.

For more on the Y's wide variety of programs and activities for adults and children, visit marcoymca.org or call 239-394-YMCA (9622). Follow on Twitter at ymcamarco; on Facebook @marcoymca, and Instagram at ymcamarco.