from staff
One of the Jacksonville Bar Association’s biggest fundraisers isn’t limited to just members of the Bar and their better halves. Monte Carlo Night, set for April 14 at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Jacksonville, is open to everyone.
The black-tie optional event costs $100 per person and includes heavy hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, dessert and coffee. The museum will be decorated like a casino complete with various gaming tables, all designed to raise money for the Bar’s HabiJax house.
Tammy Butler, an attorney with CSX who works in their governance and business section, is a member of the Bar’s board of governors. She’s also chairing the event, something she may have done despite getting the job by default.
“I missed a board retreat,” she said. “But, I probably would have done it anyway.”
The event is usually held at the Cummer Museum of Arts and Gardens. However, due to renovations at the Riverside museum, the event was moved to MOCA Jacksonville.
“We needed a location within our budget. It took a while to make the numbers work,” said Butler, who’s been working on the project since late last year.
So far ticket sales have been slow and that may be due to the misconception the event is open only to Bar members and their spouses or dates. Butler said she’d like to sell 200 tickets and, through the silent auction, raise $10,000 for the Bar’s HabiJax house. This year’s silent auction includes round trip airfares on Southwest Airlines, weekend stays at resorts like the Marriott at Sawgrass, Amelia Island Plantation and the Hilton in Naples, gift certificates to Bistro Aix and Biscotti’s, tickets to Jacksonville Suns games and the World Golf Hall of Fame and gift certificates to several retailers including Rosenblum’s, Aqua East Surf Shop and Wardrobe Therapy.
Reservations are required and any other inquiries can be made through the JBA offices at 399-4486.