Palm Coast, FL – As the sounds of Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock pumped through the speakers to kick off the dancing, guests at the 6th Annual TAG V. Bear Foundation dinner and dance were all smiles as they mixed and mingled at Channel Side on Thursday evening.
Billed as the 5th Anniversary dinner for the TAG V. Bear Foundation’s mascots TAG V. Bear and Rita Real-Estate, it was a reminder of what the evening’s fundraiser is really about – helping families.
Sharing some of the foundation’s accomplishments for 2020-21, the mission is front and center. Among those helped by the foundation were the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, the Early Learning Coalition of Flagler & Volusia, A Christmas to Remember, Phoenix Community Services, SMA, Flagler Volunteer Services and Habitat for Humanity.
For foundation co-founder Kathy Austrino, broker and co-owner of TAG Ventures Real Estate Services, it’s about helping families facing adversity especially those battling addiction and the associated issues that come with the disease.
Joining the evening’s festivities, Dr. Adam Lemnouni said he was pleased to help support such a good cause.
“I like to support events like this because as a chiropractor I see a lot of drug problem issues and it’s really nice that they’re doing things like this to help with the epidemic,” said Lemnouni.
Dinners usually come with swag, and guests felt an extra tug of appreciation for the evening’s token after hearing the story behind the specially made Boo Boo Bears, lovingly created by sixth grade students at Belle Terre Elementary, who upon learning about how the foundation helps women and children, were eager to help make the bears.
“The kids had so much fun creating these boo bears. It started with me thinking about two or three girls who are crafty and then more wanted to make them, so I stopped and explained to them about the foundation, what we do for the community,” shared teacher and TAG V. Bear Foundation board member Anna Fajardo.
“I showed them the very first book that we created and explained to them the importance of helping the community, because they know, as sixth graders, and within minutes the whole class, everybody was just making them. They actually made 150 Boo Boo Bears over a couple of days’ worth because I had to squeeze some academics in there,” she teased.
“I asked the parents’ permission for pictures to be taken, and the parents were so thankful that they were now exposed to something that would help the community,” said Fajardo, drawing attention the student photos as the kids beamed with pride, placed among the each table’s centerpiece.
Keeping the mood light and lively with fun photos, music and laughter, Austrino was grateful for the support of the community for the foundation’s mission.
“We do one fundraiser each year, and tonight is that fundraiser,” said Austrino. “It’s very exciting but more so, very humbling. I thought about it all day. All these people year after year step up to raise funds, and they help out through the year when they can. They just want to help.”
For more information, visit www.tagventuresrealestate.com.
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