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Amy Scherzer's weekly wrapup of the social scene

 
Guests Ian Andrew Mackechnie and Erin Meagher, from left, visit with Glazer Children’s Museum annual giving manager Shanna Rosenbluth and Imagination 2014 sponsor Bryan Glazer at Imagination 2014. 
Guests Ian Andrew Mackechnie and Erin Meagher, from left, visit with Glazer Children’s Museum annual giving manager Shanna Rosenbluth and Imagination 2014 sponsor Bryan Glazer at Imagination 2014. 
Published Oct. 10, 2014

18th annual Night of the Iguana

Landlubbers sailed into a nautical-themed Night of the Iguana, sampling from 14 restaurants, dancing to the Black Honkeys and fulfilling Make-A-Wish Foundation's list of dreams for seriously ill children. The party, begun 18 years ago at the Green Iguana restaurant, docked a fleet of 600 guests at Mainsail Suites Hotel on Sept. 26. Several "WishKids" expressed their appreciation, including Parker Lentini, who got to hang out with Tampa Bay Rays player Ben Zobrist.

The foundation raised $120,000, aided by auction proceeds, $10 sailor hats and donations-by-text, which means 17 wishes are about to come true.

JDRF's Mad for a Cure, Motown Edition gala

Busch Gardens' Motor City Groove sang all the '60s hits at JDRF's Motown Edition of its annual Mad for a Cure gala, a retro soundtrack for co-chairs Rob Canton and Nicole Johnson (both diabetic) and 300 guests advancing juvenile diabetes research to the tune of $375,000.

Jaime Quezon, a diabetic since he was 16 months old, got his buddies to dress in jelly bean-pastel suits for the throwback bash Sept. 27 at A La Carte Event Pavilion. It was also the Quezon family that bid $5,300 when Charlie the Labradoodle was auctioned.

Board president Mike Wisniewski struck a chord, donating $40,000 to celebrate turning 40 at midnight and in honor of his son Kyle, 13, who has been a diabetic since he was 2 years old. One of their guests pledged another $50,000 and the Fund a Cure appeal soon topped $200,0000.

Imagination 2014

"There's no place like the Glazer Children's Museum," paraphrased organizers of Imagination, the 12th annual gala benefit for the downtown Tampa attraction that welcomed 215,000 visitors last year. On Sept. 27, CEO Al Najaar, along with Ruth Eckerd Hall staff playing The Wizard of Oz characters Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin Man and the Cowardly Lion, greeted 370 guests on the Road to Emerald City at TPepin's Hospitality Centre.

ConceptBAIT decorators cast the ballroom in an emerald glow from chandeliers to linens and chairs, from candy buffet to sundae bar. Even the auctioneer dressed as a witch to pitch such packages as a Super Bowl trip bought by Kevin Walsh for $8,250, and the Tampa Bay Lightning VIP experience sold to Jodi and Steve Jacolow for $1,850. Erin Meagher won the drawing for the emerald earrings donated by Gold and Diamond Source as Southtown Fever got the ruby heels clicking.