Marine institute sets date for major fundraiser

(CNS): The Festival of Trees, the principal annual fundraising event for the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI), will take place in November when the organization will auction a collection of Christmas Trees sponsored and decorated by local businesses. The festival also celebrates another year of successful work in the fields of education, research and conservation as well as raising funds to support the needs of the Little Cayman Research Centre.  “The money raised at the FOT underpins the very existence of CCMI by maintaining and developing our research station which is the epicentre of our work,” officials said.

The decorated trees which are sponsored by individuals and businesses will be displayed at Camana Bay for a week before they are auctioned during a fabulous dinner.

The Festival of Trees 2012 will be launched on the 19 November with a Christmas tree decorating workshop and school carol event, culminating in the gala dinner and auction on 24 November, when Camana Bay restaurants Abacus, KARoo, The Black Trumpet, Ortanique and Michael’s Genuine will each prepare one of the courses.

Tickets are CI $150 per person. The tables seat ten and can be reserved by emailing rsvp@reefresearch.org.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a tree for CCMI’s 2012 Festival of Trees, please contact Kate Pellow at kpellow@reefresearch.org.