Gala benefits Roots in Resilience
Roots in Resilience held its first-ever Green Gala 2025 on Dec. 20 at BIG ARTS on Sanibel. The event featured hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and a screening of “On Sanibel: The Hurricane Diaries.” Supported by partners the city of Sanibel, Charitable Foundation of the Islands and Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation, Roots in Resilience aims to restore Sanibel’s tropical landscapes and to revitalize key corridors and public spaces by planting 50-plus native trees and vegetation each year for the next 50 years. The public-private partnership has been made possible through the generosity of volunteers and donors, including: artist Rachel Pierce, who shared her artwork; On Island, which donated shirts; and Laura DeBruce, who donated her documentary. One of the most inspiring contributions came from a student at The Sanibel School, who created and donated resin ornaments to support the initiative.