Nibbling on strawberry shortcake bites to the sounds of ethereal music, bidding on auction items, and watching a male octopus jet across a tank while a female of the ultra-intelligent species broods, it was all part of making a difference at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
The Coast Cares Gala, held on the night of Sept. 12, aimed to raise $300,000 for Hope Services programs throughout the region to assist with employment opportunities, mental health and wellness, family support, and closing service gaps in underserved coastal communities.
In the end they smashed that goal, raising $350,000 with the help of Olympic figure skater and US Ambassador for the Special Olympics Kristi Yamaguchi, who sat front-row as the furious bidding action played out.
“Our theme for the event, inspired by the natural beauty and interconnectedness of Monterey Bay, was ‘An Ecosystem of Hope,’” said Nam Le, Hope Services’ director of marketing. “You could truly feel that in the room.”
Only about 1 in 5 Californians with developmental disabilities is employed in the community, and adults with disabilities experience poverty at more than twice the rate of those without disabilities, according to Hope Services.
“The Coast Cares Gala showed what is possible when mission, heart and community come together. Seeing so many people share the commitment to creating opportunities for people with disabilities brought that theme to life.”
