SARASOTA – The 16th Annual Sunset Silent Auction raised $56,000 for Lutheran Services Florida’s Sarasota Guardianship Program.

The total was “our best year ever,” according to Sarasota Guardianship Director Anne Ridings.

The event was held Saturday, October 15, at The Chelsea Center. More than 330 people attended the “Sock Hop”-themed event, many decked out in their best 1950s attire. The crowd included Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio. Many of the men sported blue jeans and white t-shirts or leather jackets, while the women wore saddle oxfords, bobby socks, poodle skirts and scarves.

The Sock Hop also had more than a few Pink Ladies, including Anne Ridings and a group of friends. Their matching pink bowling shirts featured their initials.

Music by Queens of the Jukebox, DJ Art Talbot and the Heather Downie Band kept guests rocking around the clock – or at least until late in the evening.

The Sarasota Guardianship Program serves some 350 clients each year. Guardians are appointed by the courts to act on behalf of those who cannot handle their own affairs because of physical injuries, mental illness, developmental disabilities, Alzheimer’s disease or other age-related dementia. Nearly 70 percent of those under LSF Guardianship are indigent. As guardian, LSF works to protect some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens from abuse, neglect and exploitation.

For more information on LSF’s Guardianship Program, call Anne Ridings at 941-358-6330 or email her at aridings@lsfnet.org.

Food for the event was provided by: Beautiful Cakes by Ron, Bonefish Grill, Captain Curt’s, Five Points Deli, Gold Rush Barbeque, Heron Communities, Longhorn Steakhouse, Maria’s Italian Kitchen, Michael’s on East, Morton’s Gourmet Market, Mr. Cheesecake, NV Custom Chocolates, Patty’s on Main, Rico’s Pizzeria and Pasta House, Sarasota County Fire Department Station 2, Sugar & Spice, The Lazy Lobster and Troyer’s Dutch Heritage.

Many thanks to our sponsors for this year’s event.

Diamond Sponsors: All Stat Home Health, Granny Nannies Home Health Care

Platinum Sponsors: Beneva Lakes Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center, Boyer Jackson, P.A., Law Office of Gerald F. O’Brien, Neil W. Scott, Attorney and Counselor at Law

Gold Sponsors: Family Home Health and Family Home Physicians, Kalo and Verheul, P.A., Town and Country Real Estate

Silver Sponsors: A Better Solution, Inc., Arden Courts, Charla M. Burchett, PLC, Ferguson, Skipper, Shaw, Keyser, Baron & Tirabasi, P.A., Kathy Hoonhout, Realtor, Right at Home, Springwood Care and Rehabilitation Center, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Village on the Isle

Bronze Sponsors: Affinity Home Care Services, Alternative Homemaking with a Heart of SW Florida, LLC, At Home At Last, Cabot Reserve on the Green, Help At Home, Home Instead Senior Care, Kirk Pinkerton, P.A., Law Offices of James L. Essenson, Law Office of Mark Mazzeo, Esquire, Shelle K. Otto, CPA, Sarasota Health and Rehabilitation Center, LLC, Sunset Lake Health and Rehabilitation Center, Waterside Retirement Estates

Underwriters: Comerica Bank (Chelsea Center), Angers Auto World (Postage), Caldwell Trust (Beverages and Tableware), Thrivent Financial for Lutherans (Decorations)

Donations: Theodore A. Gollnick, P.A. (Wine), Gulf Coast Distributors (Beer), Longhorn Steakhouse (Linens), The Sign Zoo (Signage), Johnson Printing (Invitations), Southeast High School Skills USA Culinary Club and Chef Mike Niewodowski (Pre-Party Catering), Beneva Lakes Healthcare (Meeting Room and Lunches)

The Annual Sunset Silent Auction Committee included: Chairman Carmen Scoma (All Stat Home Health), Andrew Burke (Granny Nannies), Annette Byler (Beneva Lakes), Amanda Harrison (Arden Courts), Barbara Carroll, Carol Snodgrass (A Better Solution), Charla M. Burchett (Charla M. Burchett PLC), Cindy Marino (Right at Home), Danielle Valery (Sunset Lake/Greenbriar Rehab), Denise Kraemer (Family Home Health), Georgann Nugent (Serenity Place at Doctors Hospital), Jan Damelio (Harmony Health Care), Jim Lyons (Affinity Home Care), Kathleen Hoonhout (Coldwell Banker), Linda Dinardo, Lisa Misura (Springwood), Mary Sander (Comerica Bank), Melinda Diamond (Home Instead), Michael Juceam (Right at Home), Michelle Saing (Evercare), Pat Zagony (Palmer Ranch Healthcare, Assisted Living and Memory Care), Patricia Ridings, Patricia Youssef, Patti McConnell (Caldwell Trust), Richard Veleber (Thrivent Financial for Lutherans), Vicki Vicorra (NV Event Planner), Wendy Demo, Steve Bloom (S & B Insurance), and LSF staff members Anne Ridings, Kathleen Boyle, Nancy Chupp, Tammy Sepper and Sylvia Harris.

Lutheran Services Florida is a statewide, nonprofit human services agency dedicated to helping all people in need regardless of religious affiliation, age or national origin. Headquartered in Tampa, the agency has more than 60 programs located throughout Florida. Since it was established in 1982, LSF has helped more than 850,000 children and families. LSF’s mission is to bring God’s healing, hope and help to people in need.