Support Mote Marine's Oil Spill Response at Sarasota Yacht Club Charitable Foundation Event

SARASOTA -- Members of the Sarasota Yacht Club Charitable Foundation and Mote Marine Laboratory are teaming up to host a fundraising evening in response to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

The event, S.O.S. (Save our Seas), will be held at 6 p.m. on Saturday, June 5, at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Boulevard in Sarasota.

With thousands of barrels of oil gushing into the Gulf of Mexico each day, the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and its consequences to the environment have become an ongoing and monumental challenge.

Funds raised from this event will help Mote scientists monitor and study the impacts of the spill and help oiled sea life for animals brought to Mote's hospitals.

"The situation is urgent for leading marine research organizations such as Mote to assess the damage by conducting baseline measurements of conditions prior to the spill," said Nigel Mould, co-chairman of the event and chairman of Mote's Volunteer Board of Directors. "Further, the monies raised will help Mote to monitor oil effects on 33 gulf coast beaches, rehabilitate oiled wildlife, and create an ecosystem event response plan."

Guests at the "Save Our Seas" event will enjoy cocktails, dinner and the music of the Islandboys in a tropical, casual setting. A live auction at 8:30 p.m. will feature:

¥ MarineMax Sunset Cruise - A luxury yacht cruise at sunset for six people with a wine tasting and hors d'oeuvres, sponsored by MarineMax.

¥ Wells Fargo Shark Day - A Mote charter for up to five people for a full day shark catch, tag and release expedition, sponsored by Wells Fargo.

¥ An evening to remember - A flight for four people to either Key West, Ft. Lauderdale or Miami with dinner at a top restaurant, sponsored by Sarasota Yacht Club Member Lee Pokoik.

Tickets are $75 per person and $1,000 to sponsor a table of up to eight guests. Please RSVP by Friday, May 29. Corporate sponsors include Marine Max and Wells Fargo. Nigel and Nathalie Mould are co-chairs for the evening.

For RSVPs and more information, visit: www.syccharitablefoundation.org or call the Sarasota Yacht Club at 941-365-419.