Mother’s Against Drunk Driving gears up for annual SeaWorld gala
WELCOME BACK. THE CENTRAL FLORIDA CHAPTER OF MOTHERS AGAINST DRUNK DRIVING IS GEARING UP FOR ITS ANNUAL GALA TO RAISE MONEY FOR PEOPLE IMPACTED BY IMPAIRED DRIVING. IT WILL BE MY FOURTH YEAR HOSTING. I’M HONORED TO HELP SUPPORT THIS CAUSE, CHRISTIE MCELROY, THE DIRECTOR OF CENTRAL FLORIDA, IS HERE WITH US IN THE STUDIO. CHRISTIE. GOOD MORNING. CHRISTIE, JOINING ME RIGHT NOW. YOU’RE HERE TO LET US KNOW THAT SO MANY FAMILIES HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY DRUNK DRIVING AND ALL THE MONEY RAISED FROM THIS GALA STAYS HERE LOCALLY. IT DOES. WE ARE HOPING TO MAKE A SIGNIFICANT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACT HERE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA AND HELPING TO END IMPAIRED DRIVING. OVER 12,000 PEOPLE ARE KILLED EVERY YEAR IN AMERICA DUE TO DUI RELATED DRIVING ACCIDENTS, AND WE CAN PREVENT THAT. THAT’S OVER 30 PEOPLE EACH DAY THAT ARE KILLED. AND HAVING EVENTS LIKE THIS HELP US RAISE THOSE FUNDS TO HELP PREVENT AND ALSO SERVE VICTIMS THAT ARE IMPACTED. YEAH. THE GALA IS NEXT SATURDAY, NOT THIS SATURDAY. IT’S GOING TO BE MARCH 21ST, 6:00 AT NIGHT TO TEN IN THE EVENING. YOU CAN SEE ALL THE DETAILS HERE. WALK US THROUGH WHAT PEOPLE CAN EXPECT. YOU SEE THE COST THERE 150 PER PERSON. BUT TALK WITH ME ABOUT WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO BE DOING THAT EVENING? YES, WE HAVE SOME AMAZING ACTIVITIES THAT ARE GOING TO BE THERE THAT EVENING. NOT ONLY WILL WE HAVE THE SEAWORLD ANIMAL AMBASSADORS THERE, WE HAVE PLENTY OF CASINO TABLES THAT PEOPLE CAN PARTICIPATE IN, AS WELL AS AMAZING PRIZES ON OUR SILENT AUCTION. SO THERE. OF COURSE, WE ALWAYS WANT PEOPLE TO COME DO THEIR SLOTHY WITH OUR SLOTH AMBASSADORS. SO IT’S SO MUCH FUN AND REALLY HOPE THAT PEOPLE COME OUT AND HELP SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITY. YEAH, WE HAVE A KEYNOTE SPEAKER. WE ALSO HAVE A LOCAL PEOPLE IMPACTED BY IMPAIRED DRIVING. THEY’RE GOING TO SPEAK. SO IT’S GOING TO BE VERY IMPACTFUL. TALK TO YOU ABOUT THIS YEAR’S KEYNOTE SPEAKER AND WALK ME THROUGH KIND OF THE ORDER OF EVENTS. YES. WE’RE SO EXCITED TO PARTNER WITH SHERIFF BLACKMON FROM THE OSCEOLA COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE. HE HAS BEEN A GREAT ALLY OF OURS, AND HE IS VERY STRONG AT PREVENTING IMPAIRED DRIVING AND MAKING SURE THAT EVERYONE GETS HOME SAFELY AND SHARING THAT MESSAGE WITH US. YEAH. AND TALK WITH ME ABOUT WE HAVE THE SILENT AUCTION AS WELL. THAT’S GOING TO BE A BIG A BIG ONE FOR PEOPLE. THEY CAN BID ON THE SILENT AUCTION ITEMS. WE HAVE THE LINK TO THE WEBSITE ON OUR WEBSITE, WESH.COM. SO YOU’LL BE ABLE TO BID ON THOSE IN ADVANCE. AND YOU WERE TELLING ME NORMALLY WE ANNOUNCE THOSE SILENT AUCTION ITEMS AT THE END, BUT PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY NOT GOING TO HAVE TO BE THERE NECESSARILY TO GET THEIR PRIZE. SO THEY CAN ALREADY START LOOKING AND BIDDING ON THOSE ITEMS. OUR VIRTUAL LINK IS LIVE, SO OUR SILENT AUCTION IS COMPLETELY OPEN TO EVERYBODY THAT WANTS TO PARTICIPATE. IF YOU DO WIN THE PRIZE, WE WILL HELP MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GET IT TO YOU. SO PLEASE ALSO IF YOU CAN SUPPORT BY ATTENDING, PLEASE TAKE A LOOK AT OUR SILENT AUCTION PAGE. WE HAVE AMAZING PRIZES FROM OUR LOCAL PARTNERS, FROM VARIOUS EVENTS. THERE’S TICKETS TO CONCERTS, GOLF ACTIVITIES, HOTEL STAYS. SO THERE’S SO MUCH TO DO IN SO MANY WAYS TO BE INVOLVED. YEAH. AND I REALLY WANT TO EMPHASIZE THIS IS AT SEA WORLD. WE’VE HAD IT THERE THE LAST THREE YEARS AND IT’S AN AWESOME VENUE BECAUSE SO NUMBER ONE, YOUR PARKING IS INCLUDED WITH YOUR TICKET. SO I KNOW IT’S LIKE GOING TO THE THEME PARK. IF YOU’RE LOCAL, THE PARKING IS VERY EASY. IT’S RIGHT IN FRONT OF THE PORTS OF CALL AND IT’S INCLUDED. BUT ALSO YOU GET TO SEE THOSE ANIMAL AMBASSADORS. THEY HAVE THE SLOTH AND HOPEFULLY WE’LL GET ANOTHER ONE IN THERE THIS YEAR. SO LOTS TO LOOK FORWARD TO. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE OFFERING 25% OFF JUST FOR WESH VIEWERS USING THE CODE WESH GALA, SO YOU CAN USE THAT TODAY. ONLY 25% OFF. THAT’S A VERY GENEROUS CODE, SO THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE YOU WANT TO ADD? NO, JUST WE WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU COME. LIKE YOU SAID, THE PARKING IS INCLUDED. WE HAVE VIP PARKING RIGHT OUTSIDE OF PORTS OF CALL. SO VERY EASY TO COME DRESSED UP. YOU DON’T HAVE A LONG WALK OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. AND THERE’S GOING TO BE AMAZING FOOD. WE HAVE THE THE WORLD BUFFET THERE, SO PLENTY OF OPTIONS FOR EVERYBODY. AND OF COURS
Mother’s Against Drunk Driving gears up for annual SeaWorld gala
Updated: 9:25 AM EDT Mar 12, 2026
The Central Florida chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is preparing for its annual gala next weekend, raising money to support people and families in the community impacted by impaired driving.The event will take place Saturday, March 21, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at SeaWorld Orlando’s Ports of Call venue.This year marks the fourth year WESH 2’s Traffic Anchor, Meaghan Mackey, will host the event, which helps fund local victim services and prevention programs.Kristi McElroy, Director of MADD Central Florida, says the money raised stays in the community and directly helps those affected by impaired driving.The gala will once again feature a casino theme, giving attendees the chance to play casino-style games throughout the evening. Guests will also enjoy dinner and have opportunities to bid on both live and silent auction items.This year’s keynote speaker will be Sheriff Chris Blackmon with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.Tickets cost $150 per person or $275 per couple.Organizers say viewers can receive 25% off tickets for one day only by using the code “WESHGALA.” The code expires on March 13.The nonprofit’s goal is $46,500.Parking is included with your ticket purchase.More information about the event and ticket purchases can be found by clicking here.
ORLANDO, Fla. —
The Central Florida chapter of Mothers Against Drunk Driving is preparing for its annual gala next weekend, raising money to support people and families in the community impacted by impaired driving.
The event will take place Saturday, March 21, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. at SeaWorld Orlando’s Ports of Call venue.
This year marks the fourth year WESH 2’s Traffic Anchor, Meaghan Mackey, will host the event, which helps fund local victim services and prevention programs.
Kristi McElroy, Director of MADD Central Florida, says the money raised stays in the community and directly helps those affected by impaired driving.
The gala will once again feature a casino theme, giving attendees the chance to play casino-style games throughout the evening. Guests will also enjoy dinner and have opportunities to bid on both live and silent auction items.
This year’s keynote speaker will be Sheriff Chris Blackmon with the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office.
Tickets cost $150 per person or $275 per couple.
Organizers say viewers can receive 25% off tickets for one day only by using the code “WESHGALA.” The code expires on March 13.
MADD Central Florida
Viewers can save 25% off their ticket
The nonprofit’s goal is $46,500.
Parking is included with your ticket purchase.
More information about the event and ticket purchases can be found by clicking here.