Sponsorships, tickets available for Denim and Diamonds gala

The Denim and Diamonds Gala returns in September and sponsorships and tickets are available now.

The annual gala is the main fundraiser for the St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Foundation and supports its mission, benefitting the business community and the public at large.

This year, the venue is Ancient City Farmstead, located at 395 St. Marks Pond Blvd., St. Augustine. The event, to be held from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 10, will feature a silent auction, a live auction, an open bar and a barbecue dinner catered by the very popular Mojo BBQ.

Businesses and individuals are being invited to donate items to the auctions. Organizers are seeking travel packages, jewelry, sports memorabilia and more.

In addition, sponsorship opportunities abound: one at the diamond level, three platinum, two gold and many silver. An entertainment sponsor, bar sponsor, photo booth sponsor, welcome table sponsor, décor sponsor, dessert sponsor and many denim sponsors are also being sought. Each comes with complementary tickets, many with reserved seating, as well as a host of perks.

Sponsorships are available at a range of price levels, from $8,000 down to $500.

To learn more about sponsorship opportunities, download the sponsor packet or donate auction items, go to sjcchamber.com/foundation-gala.

As its name implies, the character of the annual event is more casual than the black-tie affairs one often associates with the word gala. Cowboy hats and boots, western prints and lots of denim abound.

“It’ll be a fun evening with sort of a country-western theme,” said Morrie Maple, foundation board chair. “People dress up in their country-western attire with their diamonds and their sparkles and all.”

Last year, about 200 people attended the gala, which was held at the Fountain of Youth in St. Augustine, and Maple is hoping for a similar response this year. In addition, the foundation has set a fundraising goal of $200,000. These funds will help support the foundation’s three main initiatives:

• Leadership St. Johns — This program helps participants develop their leadership skills and has fostered the growth of hundreds of business, government and community professionals over the past two decades. In part, funds raised by the gala will support scholarships to the program.

• Emergency relief fund — Help for local businesses affected by natural disasters and economic downturns

• Workforce development — Through partnerships with local educational institutions, the foundation seeks to develop a highly skilled workforce. Qualified professionals are needed to fill positions in certain fields, such as health care. At the same time, housing opportunities must be expanded in order to retain this workforce in St. Johns County, which has the highest median home prices in Northeast Florida.

The foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so donations are tax deductible.

Individual tickets to the Denim and Diamonds gala are $120 and may be purchased at sjcchamber.com/foundation-gala.