Behind the Blooms
Gourmet & Grapes at The Sanctuary for MUSC
Wednesday, March 18, 2009






Charleston is a very giving town, even during this economic meltdown. Recently The Sanctuary Resort on Kiawah Island created it's innagural "Gourmet & Grapes" fundraiser. It benefitted the Medical University of South Carolina's Hollings Cancer Center. The MUSC Hollings Cancer Center was recently recognized as one of the best in the country. The Sanctuary has also been recognized as one of the best resorts in the country. It was a great partnership and we were proud to be part of it.



As the florist and event decor specialist for the Sanctuary, we do a lot of work with Adventures in Charleston, their destination management company. Hope Sweeney of Adventures in Charleston and our own Gayla Harvey brainstormed with The Sanctuary's Director of Catering Pam Russell on the look of the event.

They decided we needed a very large, contemporary design element for the center of the room. Something colorful, bold and well, LARGE. In fact, the goal was to completely cover the giant chandelier and take emphasis away from the lighting truss being installed for the event. Gayla and I kicked around different options, and eventually sketched out a square, tiered "lamp shade". We thought about making it entirely of Hawaiian orchid garlands...until we crunched the numbers and realized it would cost over $10,000 just for the flowers. Instead we decided to use a shimmering fabric in shades of dark red, the event's colors. Including the frame, fabrics and labor, it totalled just over $1,000. We also donated all of the flowers and other design elements for the three day event.



The photos you see take you from the brainstorming sketch we made in the office, to installation and finally during the actual event. I just thought it was a unique opportunity to see the entire process. Click on the photos to see larger images.



We attended the event, and it was a great success. It raised over $100,000 for the MUSC Cancer Center...great for the first year! It's always tough to start a fundraiser from nothing, and all the folks at The Sanctuary worked real hard on the event. I'm sure it will grow every year. Kudos to The Sanctuary, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, and especially the fine folks who attended the event and graciously donated their time and money. With all the negative stuff we see on in the news, it's inspiring to see these folks stepping up. Ultimately it will be that type of energy that will be the "bail-out" from the economic troubles we are in. I left the event Saturday night understanding the solution to our troubles. It will not be the government, the banks, nor the money. It will be individuals, stepping up and leading the way.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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"Flowers for Food" Fundraiser
Thursday, December 18, 2008






How could Tiger Lily best support a great organization, the Lowcountry Food Bank? I cut them a check already, but surely there was something else we could do. The Lowcountry Food Bank (LCFB) feeds thousands of folks everyday, between Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head. Many of those folks are children. Kids who would otherwise go to bed hungry, everyday. I don't like that, not in my town!

So we came up with the idea of teaching a flower design class and donating all the proceeds to the LCFB. We held the class at the Food Bank, so folks can see and appreciate the new facility and the great challenge.

We teach flower design courses throughout the year for Trident Technical College. They sell out quickly and have a waiting list. We hoped some of that demand would fuel a good turnout. Clara taught the class, Tiger Lily employees DD, Robin, Nicole and Brenda volunteered their time to help out. Several of our vendors stepped up and donated their flowers at no charge. Way to go folks we really appreciate it. Remember, some of these farms are overseas and look up to the U.S. as the "land of plenty". For them to donate to us is kind of like us donating to GM or Chrysler....oh wait a second, forget about that analogy.

Anyway these generous donations enabled us to give 100% of the proceeds to the LCFB. The money raised created 6,000 meals!

The best part of it was that the participants made and kept two killer holiday arrangments each! Most of the folks were novices and never made an arrangement before. Once they got over their initial hesitations they did great! They taped vases, greened, then added the flowers. Clara made model arrangements for them to follow. Some followed them perfectly, others quickly went in their own direction. All turned out great. I think their favorite part was throwing the leaves and cut stems on the floor.

In the photos above, it is easy to see the stoke of the participants. The photo on the left includes a group that came from Wild Wing Cafe corporate office. I'm a big fan of Wild Wing, both as a diner, and as a business owner. I really look up to them as a business inspiration. Great food, great service, great business model, everyday. They make all of their stuff at each restaurant: sauces, dressings, salsas, etc. That committment to quality is apparent everytime I sit down to a 25 wing sampler.

We kind of slammed this event together at the last minute, but it was good for a first time. I would like to try it again, give ourselves a couple months to promote it, and get 50 people there. If we hold 4 a year we would raise $10,000 for the LCFB. That's our goal. Not bad for a little flower shop. We would also show folks what the LCFB is all about.

Things are tough all over, and I dont' want to get "preachy". If you get a chance to help someone this holiday season, go for it. You'll be the one who benefits the most.

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Posted by Manny Gonzales
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