Tickets are available for a fundraiser to support a new initiative to rebuild Sanibel’s green spaces.
Organized by Roots in Resilience, the first-ever Green Gala 2025 will be held on Dec. 20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at BIG ARTS on Sanibel. The event will entail hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a film screening.
Kate Sergeant, who is involved with the group, explained that Roots in Resilience started out as a citizen collaboration with the city and its Natural Resources Department. The initiative aims to restore the lush, tropical landscapes that define Sanibel by revitalizing its key corridors and public spaces.
“It is an initiative to raise money to regreen Sanibel,” she said, noting that the need was generated from the hurricanes in recent years. “So it’s replanting large trees and vegetation along roadways, our bike trails and, eventually, our beach accesses.”
The collaborative partnership has expanded to also include the Charitable Foundation of the Islands (CFI) and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Sergeant explained that CFI will manage the funding raised for the projects, and SCCF will help select the trees and vegetation for replanting.
In addition, Coastal Vista Design’s Leigh Gevelinger is donating her landscape architect services.
She continued that as a living tribute to the city’s 50th anniversary, the now long-term initiative aims to regreen public spaces by planting 50-plus native trees and vegetation each year for the next 50 years.
The Green Gala 2025 will serve as the kickoff fundraiser for Roots in Resilience.
“That will go toward our first project,” Sergeant said of the proceeds.
It will focus on the Causeway Boulevard corridor, the entryway to Sanibel. New native plantings will help restore the welcoming, subtropical landscape from the causeway end to the four-way stop sign.
“We’re hoping to plant 50 large trees, plus vegetation,” she said. “That’s the goal.”
The evening will open with passed hors d’oeuvres served up by Jamie’s Cuisine and an open bar.
“Kind of a cocktail happy hour prior to the screening of the film,” Sergeant said.
The film to be shown will be “On Sanibel: The Hurricane Diaries,” directed and produced by islander, Starfish Lane Production founder and City Councilmember Laura DeBruce. Named the Audience Favorite at the 2025 Fort Myers Film Festival, it chronicles Sanibel before and after Hurricane Ian — highlighting the strength, resiliency and spirit of the island community.
“We’re really honored to show Laura DeBruce’s film,” she said. “It just seemed like a nice tie in, and there’s so many people who wanted to see the film and haven’t been able to yet.”
Attire is green tie optional.
“We are encouraging people to wear something green,” Sergeant said.
General admission tickets are $175 per person; sales will end on Dec. 17 at 5 p.m.
The community is invited to attend.
“One of the most magical things about Sanibel is its natural environment. A lot of that has to do with our dense tropical vegetation. When a lot of that was lost, I think that was very disheartening for people,” she said. “It’s important that we’re good stewards of the island, and part of that is replanting what we lost.”
For tickets, visit https://secure.qgiv.com/for/charitablefoundationoftheislands/event/2025greengala/.
For more information, contact Kathryn Sisson at kathrynsisson6@gmail.com.
BIG ARTS is at 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel.
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IF YOU GO
What
Green Gala 2025
When
Dec. 20 from 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Where
BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Road, Sanibel
Details
General admission tickets are $175
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email