Lifestyles Realtors, the three-year old real estate enterprise founded by Michael Bugg, was honored at the 29th Annual Arts Awards Luncheon held recently at the Moran Theater at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts.
Bugg and Lifestyles Realtors received top recognition for extraordinary contributions to the arts on the part of a single small business. More than 200 nominations for the award were considered in advance of naming the winner.
Bugg and Lifestyles Realtors were nominated by the board members and staff of The Beaches Fine Arts Series (BFAS), an organization that seeks to enrich the cultural life of Florida’s First Coast. Each year the series presents musical, theatrical and dance performances and exhibits of visual art. In addition, the series supports educational and outreach activities that encourage participation and appreciation of the fine arts, especially among young people.
The major fundraiser for the BFAS is the Lifestyles Realtors Beaches Fine Arts Sprint Triathlon Series. Title sponsorship of the triathlon series by Lifestyles Realtors makes possible the presentation of the fine arts series.
“Lifestyles Realtors has been instrumental in underwriting many of these performances, exhibits and outreach programs,” said Kathryn Wallis, Executive Director of the BFAS. “Since coming onto the scene, they have made a huge difference in the cultural life of this community.”
The awards luncheon featured Mayor John Peyton as the keynote speaker. It was highlighted by a performance by Griot 3 and an invocational poem read by its author, Mary Sue Koeppel. Each winner received an original painting by artist Jim Draper.
In March 2005, Lifestyles Realtors was the impetus for BFAS to hold its first concert performance in downtown Jacksonville, featuring the international group Anuna. This event introduced the people of greater Jacksonville to the concert series that residents of the beaches have enjoyed for the past 32 years.
Their contributions also support the educational outreach activities associated with each concert that engages local school children with the performers. For example, Lifestyles Realtors underwrote the cost of producing the Native American activity book for the Nakai/Eaton/Amadeus Trio outreach program.