Antilles put the “fun” back into fundraising Saturday, with more than 200 guests enjoying an evening of dinner, dancing, and entertainment benefitting the school’s students, faculty, and programs.
The Mark C. Marin Center was transformed for the event, with festive Carnival décor matching the energy of dancers and moko jumbies in an opening show sponsored by the USVI Division of Festivals. Following a sit-down dinner, the sounds of Cool Session Brass — sponsored by St. Thomas Properties — rounded out the evening, pulling attendees to the dance floor until midnight.
The generous support of sponsors, donors, and guests also helped Antilles exceed its overall fundraising goals, including more than $100,000 brought in for financial assistance.
“In addition to a great party, the portion of the night dedicated to raising funds for financial assistance was the most successful in many years,” said Head of School Shannon Harris. “I am so appreciative of our volunteers and the team that put the night together, along with everyone who gave of themselves to make the event a huge success.”
Antilles third-grade teacher Rebecca Rodriguez, whose son Lucas — a 2022 Presidential Scholar nominee — is heading to Johns Hopkins University in the fall, noted that supporting the school while also getting dressed up and enjoying an evening out felt particularly special after a two-year pandemic break.
“It was wonderful to be able to come together again while supporting the school!” she said.
Almost 30 locally-based businesses sponsored the event, including Alpine, Norcarib Group, Prosolar, Theodore Tunick & Company, Custom Builders, Budget Rent A Car, Baker Magras & Associates, Inc., International Private Bank, Bluewater Construction, and FirstBank VI, with others donating more than 100 items to the silent auction. In-kind sponsors included Bellows and West Indies Corporation.