BRADENTON BEACH – The Anna Maria Island Privateers and the Drift In raised $2,350 during Saturday’s annual Christmas in July fundraiser.
Saturday evening’s fundraising efforts included two raffles: one raffle for the lotto board that contained a $100 bill surrounded by $400 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets; and another for the liquor basket valued at $300.
Glen Authers won the
lotto board assembled by honorary Privateer Ellen Scott, and Drift In Manager and honorary Privateer Doreen Flynn won the liquor basket.
The fundraising efforts also included food sales. For a $10 donation, folks could enjoy a wide variety of food donated by local restaurants and others.
While standing near the food table, Privateer Carmela O’Driscoll thanked The Freckled Fin, the Palmetto Moose Lodge, Double Deez Chicago Style Hot Dogs, El Sombreros, Cheesecake Cutie, Bolo’s Baked Goods, the Privateers and Flynn for the food and desserts they donated to the cause.
Several local restaurants donated food to the fundraising efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As the event got underway, Privateer John “Arr” Rutherford said, “We’re raising money for kids at Christmas time. Most of today’s proceeds will go toward the families that have fallen on hard times that we help during Christmas. This is one of our two annual events that we have to help our Christmas families. The Drift In has been great in allowing us to host this annual event here for the past several years. They’re super-supportive of the Privateers.”
“We hope to raise lots of money for the Privateers,” Flynn said. “We help families every year at Christmas and we also help raise money for the scholarships the Privateers give away in July. The Privateers do so much for the children in our community and that’s what it’s all about.”
Sitting outside in his Adirondack chair, Santa (Greg McCoy) posed for pictures with those who made donations to the Privateers. During the late afternoon musical performance by Dos-Macs and Tommy Balbo, Santa stepped to the mic and said he was already compiling his naughty and nice lists and supporting the Privateers would get you on his nice list.
Concrete Edgar provided live music indoors that evening.
