President and chief executive Gary MacMath recognized longtime community partners, including U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor; St. Petersburg officials Goliath Davis and David Metz; Tampa official J. Marie Dolphin; Homeless Leadership Network members Jamie Bennett, Ken Welch, Carlen Petersen and Ronnie Duncan; Synovus Bank official Robert L. Williams III; and consumer advocates Judy Turnbaugh and Patricia Adams.

05.01.10

Guests at the Pier Aquarium's second "A Sustainable Collaboration" were in for treats of all sorts at the fundraiser held in a private Treasure Island home that had patrons oohing and aahing over all of the "green" features incorporated into its award-winning construction.

Explaining many of the details were Jeffrey Wolf, the general contractor for the home, and Jennifer Languell, the Discovery Channel's expert for environmentally friendly construction and development.

Lamenting the oil spill near Louisiana, many of us wondered whether the seafood offered might be the last we'd taste for a while. Providing food and drink were Agave and the Maritana Grille at the Don CeSar in St. Pete Beach; Bella Brava, Marchand's Bar and Grill at the Renaissance Vinoy and Parkshore Grill in St. Petersburg; Guppy's Restaurant in Indian Rocks Beach; and Southern Wine & Spirits.

Numerous Tampa Bay artists gave work that was installed indoors and outdoors at the event and was available for purchase. That group included Wade Brickhouse, Laura Militizer Bryant, Nancy Cervenka, Kathryn Cole, John Gurbacs, Kathryn Howd, Duncan McClellan, Branan Mercer, Beth Morean, Owen Pach, Charlie Parker, Matt Schiemann, Stephanie Schorr, Catherine Woods, Ken Yancey and Adam Yungbluth.

And if all of that wasn't enough, guests were able to take rides aboard the Endeavour Green, an electric hybrid boat.

Kudos to event chair Ann Wolf and event committee members, who included aquarium president and chief executive E. Howard Rutherford, board of directors member Susan Wallace, Grete Faulhaber, Cynthia Fox and Emily Stehle.