Masters of ceremony Margaret Orr and Jim Henderson as well as honorary chairperson Shane Gorringe of Zoë’s Bakery welcomed guests at the Junior League of Greater Covington’s fifth annual “Celebration of Innovation,” benefitting the Children’s Museum of St. Tammany on Sunday, March 4 at the Castine Center in Mandeville.
This year’s event included performances by KARMA and the Fontainebleau Jazz Ensemble One on an Ochsner Health System-sponsored stage. Acme Oyster House, Bonefish Grill and Keith Young’s Steak House were a few of the local restaurants that participated in the culinary showcase that, for the first time, allowed guests to anonymously vote for the overall best dish. The event also featured a raffle sponsored by Huntington Learning Center with Apple products and Best Buy gift cards of varying amounts. This year’s live and silent auction featured a goldendoodle puppy, flight lessons and many other noteworthy items donated by various Northshore businesses. The fundraiser also had a balloon drop and a “Spinnovation” wheel.
The JLGC fundraiser has raised more than $450,000 since the inception of the event in 2008. The money raised at this year’s event went to contracting the museum’s exhibit designer and campaign partner and creating a website that enables museum supporters to follow its building progress.
