There is a change in the air, and for Gulf Coast Humane Society’s biggest fundraiser it comes as a refreshing one. After eight successful years of hosting the gala-style ‘A Home for the Holidays’, there will be many different aspects to GCHS’ biggest fundraiser of the year, from the theme to the date and also to the location. We want to keep this fundraiser which sustains GCHS throughout the year fresh, but the ultimate goal remains the same, and that’s to provide for the shelter animals. No longer will the night feature a gala formal dress-up theme, instead it will be a more casual and relaxed atmosphere, highlighted by Fort Myers area chefs cooking some of their best creations.
The night of entertainment will be entitled “Celebrity Chef Festival” and be moved from early November to Thursday, January 17, from 5:30-9pm. The location is another exciting change with the event being moved to Six Bends. They are pet friendly and will provide an entertaining venue for our Celebrity Chef Festival debut. The evening will include Hors D’oeuvres, dinner, open bar, live/silent auction, live music and adorable pets. The food will be prepared by 8-10 local chefs at stations that can be sampled throughout the evening.
The sponsorship packages will remain similar to ‘A Home for the Holidays’ and are just as important.
The night of entertainment will be entitled “Celebrity Chef Festival” and be moved from early November to Thursday, January 17, from 5:30-9pm. The location is another exciting change with the event being moved to Six Bends. They are pet friendly and will provide an entertaining venue for our Celebrity Chef Festival debut. The evening will include Hors D’oeuvres, dinner, open bar, live/silent auction, live music and adorable pets. The food will be prepared by 8-10 local chefs at stations that can be sampled throughout the evening.
The sponsorship packages will remain similar to ‘A Home for the Holidays’ and are just as important.
Professional Auctioneer Scott Robertson, CAI, BAS
|
|
|
Frequently referred to as Florida’s Favorite Fundraising Auctioneer, Scott Robertson is a full time professional benefit auctioneer. For more than 20 years, he has assisted schools and non-profit organizations to meet or exceed their fundraising goals. This Florida State Champion Auctioneer has conducted thousands of fundraising auctions. In the past six year Scott and his associate auctioneer, Sara Rose Bytnar, helped not for profit organizations raise more than $150 million dollars.
Scott and Sara are two of only 150 auctioneers in the United States to receive the designation of Benefit Auctioneer Specialists awarded by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). When the NAA Foundation needed help with their own fundraising campaign at the National Conference and Show, Scott and Sara were recruited to lead the special appeal and have surpassed the organizations goal every year.
His contagious energy and enthusiasm assist in his ability to entertain at charity auctions and is evidenced by the percentage of attendees remaining in their seats bidding and cheering until the end of the auction. Scott takes great pride in helping not for profit organizations raise funds to help their cause. Scott eats, sleeps and breathes Fundraising Auctions. He is honored to play a part in making the world a better place.
Scott and Sara are two of only 150 auctioneers in the United States to receive the designation of Benefit Auctioneer Specialists awarded by the National Auctioneers Association (NAA). When the NAA Foundation needed help with their own fundraising campaign at the National Conference and Show, Scott and Sara were recruited to lead the special appeal and have surpassed the organizations goal every year.
His contagious energy and enthusiasm assist in his ability to entertain at charity auctions and is evidenced by the percentage of attendees remaining in their seats bidding and cheering until the end of the auction. Scott takes great pride in helping not for profit organizations raise funds to help their cause. Scott eats, sleeps and breathes Fundraising Auctions. He is honored to play a part in making the world a better place.
Live Music with EMMY® nominated director and notable Upright/Electric Bassist Brandon L. Robertson
Brandon L. Robertson is an EMMY® nominated director and notable Upright/Electric Bassist originally from Tampa, FL. In 2009, Brandon became a member of the Florida-based jazz trio The Zach Bartholomew Trio. The trio had the prestige honor of being part of the exclusive inaugural band for the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott in 2011. In 2012, Brandon released his first album with the Zach Bartholomew Trio entitled "Out of This Town", which received notable reviews from jazz critics.
In 2014, Brandon formed his own jazz/neo-soul/pop band called "Jazz Copeland". The band in it's two year span had great success performing for various festivals and venues around Florida. In 2015, Brandon performed at the world famous Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in New York City with the nationally recognized FSU Jazz Sextet joining members of the JALC Orchestra. The Fall of 2015, he was honored with the opportunity to perform with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra on a few shows. Brandon has performed in the South Carolina Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival, Sanibel Jazz & Blues Festival, The Landings Music Festival, Florida Jazz & Blues Festival, and In May of 2017, Brandon made his debut as a Headlining Act at the 2017 International Jacksonville Jazz Festival in Jacksonville.
Aside from being an active musician, Brandon is also an advocate in Jazz/Music Education. In the last seven years, Brandon has presented jazz clinics, workshops, masterclasses, and guest performances in schools K-12 throughout Florida, and taught at the Florida State University Summer Jazz Camps for Middle school and High school.
Brandon has performed with notable acts such as World Famous Count Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart, Vocalist Carmen Bradford (Singer for The Count Basie Orchestra), Jason Marsalis (NEA Jazz Master, Drummer & Vibraphonist), Marcus Roberts (Jazz Pianist), Marty Morell (Drummer of Pianist Bill Evans: 1968-1974), Vocalist Carla Cook (Grammy Nominee NYC Singer), Dan Miller (Former Member of The Harry Connick Jr. Big Band) , Lew Del Gatto (Former Member of the SNL Band), Leroy Jones (Jazz Trumpeter, New Orleans Legend), Harry Watters (Trombonist, Jupiter Endorsed Artist), Charlie McCoy (International Harmonica Player, Country Hall of Fame), Ray Coussins (Pianist and Former Accompanist for Frank Sinatra), Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Greg Tardy, Marcus Printup (Member of the JALC Orchestra), Nick Finzer, Patricia Dean, Thomas Heflin, Leon Anderson, International Jazz Singers June Garber & Halie Loren, Zach Bartholomew (International Jazz Pianist), Gerald Watkins (Member of the Ellis Marsalis Quartet), Robert Boone (Drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra), Ray "Quasi" Nelson (Drummer for Pop Singer Khelani and former drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra), and Adrian Crutchfield (Former Saxophonist for Prince).
In 2009, he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies. In the Spring of 2016 he earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance at FSU. During this two-year period, he directed jazz ensembles, small jazz combos, taught various music courses at the University each semester, and performed with traveling national acts visiting the campus. He was also a faculty member of Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton, GA.
Currently, Brandon is the Director of Jazz Studies & Director of the FGCU Basketball Band at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. He is now an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Mu Upsilon Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University. Brandon was nominated most recently for an EMMY® Award for best documentary for educational collegiate programs featuring the FGCU Jazz Ensemble.
Brandon is a current member of the Dan Miller/Lew Del Gatto Quartet, and performs regularly with National and International artist from around the country. Brandon is set to release his first recording "Bass’d on A True Story" Spring of 2019.
In 2014, Brandon formed his own jazz/neo-soul/pop band called "Jazz Copeland". The band in it's two year span had great success performing for various festivals and venues around Florida. In 2015, Brandon performed at the world famous Dizzy's Coca Cola Club in New York City with the nationally recognized FSU Jazz Sextet joining members of the JALC Orchestra. The Fall of 2015, he was honored with the opportunity to perform with the legendary Count Basie Orchestra on a few shows. Brandon has performed in the South Carolina Jazz Festival, Atlanta Jazz Festival, Savannah Jazz Festival, Clearwater Jazz Festival, Sanibel Jazz & Blues Festival, The Landings Music Festival, Florida Jazz & Blues Festival, and In May of 2017, Brandon made his debut as a Headlining Act at the 2017 International Jacksonville Jazz Festival in Jacksonville.
Aside from being an active musician, Brandon is also an advocate in Jazz/Music Education. In the last seven years, Brandon has presented jazz clinics, workshops, masterclasses, and guest performances in schools K-12 throughout Florida, and taught at the Florida State University Summer Jazz Camps for Middle school and High school.
Brandon has performed with notable acts such as World Famous Count Basie Orchestra led by director Scotty Barnhart, Vocalist Carmen Bradford (Singer for The Count Basie Orchestra), Jason Marsalis (NEA Jazz Master, Drummer & Vibraphonist), Marcus Roberts (Jazz Pianist), Marty Morell (Drummer of Pianist Bill Evans: 1968-1974), Vocalist Carla Cook (Grammy Nominee NYC Singer), Dan Miller (Former Member of The Harry Connick Jr. Big Band) , Lew Del Gatto (Former Member of the SNL Band), Leroy Jones (Jazz Trumpeter, New Orleans Legend), Harry Watters (Trombonist, Jupiter Endorsed Artist), Charlie McCoy (International Harmonica Player, Country Hall of Fame), Ray Coussins (Pianist and Former Accompanist for Frank Sinatra), Eric Alexander, Wycliffe Gordon, Greg Tardy, Marcus Printup (Member of the JALC Orchestra), Nick Finzer, Patricia Dean, Thomas Heflin, Leon Anderson, International Jazz Singers June Garber & Halie Loren, Zach Bartholomew (International Jazz Pianist), Gerald Watkins (Member of the Ellis Marsalis Quartet), Robert Boone (Drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra), Ray "Quasi" Nelson (Drummer for Pop Singer Khelani and former drummer for the Count Basie Orchestra), and Adrian Crutchfield (Former Saxophonist for Prince).
In 2009, he graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Music with a focus on Jazz Studies. In the Spring of 2016 he earned a Master of Music degree in Jazz Performance at FSU. During this two-year period, he directed jazz ensembles, small jazz combos, taught various music courses at the University each semester, and performed with traveling national acts visiting the campus. He was also a faculty member of Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College in Tifton, GA.
Currently, Brandon is the Director of Jazz Studies & Director of the FGCU Basketball Band at Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, FL. He is now an honorary member of the Kappa Kappa Psi Mu Upsilon Chapter at Florida Gulf Coast University. Brandon was nominated most recently for an EMMY® Award for best documentary for educational collegiate programs featuring the FGCU Jazz Ensemble.
Brandon is a current member of the Dan Miller/Lew Del Gatto Quartet, and performs regularly with National and International artist from around the country. Brandon is set to release his first recording "Bass’d on A True Story" Spring of 2019.
If you have any questions about this fun and exciting event, or would like any additional information about other ways to get involved with the event, please contact GCHS Events Coordinator at events@gulfcoasthumanesociety.org
We sincerely hope that you feel these changes will be refreshing and fun and become part of Celebrity Chef Festival 2019!
We sincerely hope that you feel these changes will be refreshing and fun and become part of Celebrity Chef Festival 2019!
