Our cameras spotted these lovely volunteers (from left) Danielle Look Loy, Marcia Ebanks and Leanie Van Wyk, looking beautiful while working up a storm in aid of charity.

By Debra Edwards
debra@caymannetnews.com

A charitable assembly of patrons showed up at The Wharf last Saturday, 28 June, for The National Trust’s Butterfly Ball, a charity cocktail evening sponsored by Cobalt Coast, artist Hollace Kutay, the Morgan Gallery, and The Wharf.

With local weatherman turned auctioneer John Foster at the helm of the bids, the packed house featured both live and silent auctions, with stunning pieces by artists Avril Ward, April Bending, Nicola McCoy Snell, Gordon Solomon, Debbie Van der Bol, Sue Widmer and Hollace Kutay, all wowing the crowd.

Without a doubt, however, the evening’s highlight came when least expected, as the magnificent creations of two students from The Lighthouse School, Mark and Matthew Ebanks, done in acrylic pointillism-style, were sold for CI$400 and CI$525, respectively.

“It was a huge success, people really came out to support the event,” explains Caroline Key, Development & Marketing Manager of the National Trust for The Cayman Islands.

Grossing over CI$15,000 for the evening, all proceeds have gone towards the National Trust’s Endemic Butterflies education programme, which teaches children about endemic and migratory butterflies of the Cayman Islands and their relationship to the eco-system.

Through Butterfly Ball, The National Trust can now afford to print butterfly identification cards, which will be distributed to children around the Islands by next year.

“We would definitely like to thank those who came, the sponsors, and especially young artist, Hollace Kutay, who along with her family contacted the National Trust and expressed an interest in having a fundraiser of this sort,” said Ms Key. “Her eagerness and enthusiasm to help the National Trust and become more involved in preserving Cayman’s delicate surroundings are valued.”