Toast for the Coast gala in Orange Beach to raise money for conservation groups

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — A new black-tie gala aimed at raising money and awareness for the organizations that protect the Gulf Coast’s waters, beaches and wildlife will debut next month. The inaugural Toast for the Coast, hosted by CoastAL Orange Beach, is set for 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21.

Organizers said the evening will gather community leaders, conservation advocates, local businesses and other supporters of the coast for a night that pairs celebration with fundraising.

An evening of food, cocktails and auctions

According to organizers, the gala will celebrate the beauty of the coast with fine food, handcrafted cocktails and live entertainment, along with opportunities for guests to give.

Both silent and live auctions are planned. Auction items will include exclusive experiences, getaways, local treasures and unique gift packages, organizers said. The black-tie designation means formal evening attire is expected of guests.

With the event falling just days before Thanksgiving, the auction’s getaways and gift packages could also appeal to attendees looking to get a head start on holiday shopping while supporting local causes.

Nine conservation groups to benefit

Proceeds from the gala will be shared among nine organizations working on conservation, research, education and cleanup efforts along the Alabama and northwest Florida coast:

• Mobile Baykeeper
• Sea, Sand & Stars
• Perdido Key Association
• Dauphin Island Sea Lab Foundation
• Gulf Coast Eco-Center
• Auburn University Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station
• Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program
• Alabama Coastal Foundation
• Alabama Coastal Cleanup

The list spans a range of approaches to protecting the region. Mobile Baykeeper is a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the Mobile Bay watershed, one of the largest river systems in the United States, and works on issues such as water quality and pollution. The Dauphin Island Sea Lab, Alabama’s marine science research and education center, has trained students and studied the Gulf and its estuaries for decades; its foundation raises private support for that work.

The Alabama Coastal Foundation focuses on protecting and improving the state’s coastal resources through education and public participation. The Alabama Coastal Cleanup is the state’s long-running volunteer effort in which residents fan out each fall to collect litter from beaches, shorelines and waterways, part of a worldwide coastal cleanup movement.

On the research side, Auburn University’s Gulf Coast Engineering Research Station supports the university’s coastal engineering work. The Pensacola & Perdido Bays Estuary Program focuses on the health of bay systems on the Florida side of the state line and the shared Perdido watershed, and the Perdido Key Association takes its name from the barrier island just east of Orange Beach. Sea, Sand & Stars and the Gulf Coast Eco-Center round out the list of beneficiaries.

Honoring the ‘unsung heroes’

John McInnis, a co-owner of CoastAL Orange Beach, said the gala is meant to shine a light on people and groups whose work often goes unnoticed by residents and visitors who enjoy the coast.

“We live in one of the most beautiful areas of the world. Behind the scenes, there are a lot of unsung heroes and organizations that fight seven days a week, 365 days a year, to keep our home beautiful and our environment clean for us, our children, and wildlife,” McInnis said.

He said the event has a dual purpose: to honor those organizations and to help the public better understand them.

“Please join us for a fun night where we celebrate them and educate our community about who these organizations are and what they do,” McInnis said.

Why coastal conservation matters locally

For communities such as Orange Beach, Gulf Shores and Perdido Key, the health of the coast is closely tied to the local economy. White-sand beaches, clean water and abundant fishing draw visitors year-round and underpin the tourism industry that supports thousands of jobs in Baldwin County and neighboring Escambia County, Florida.

The region’s bays, marshes and barrier islands also provide habitat for nesting sea turtles, migratory birds and fisheries that both commercial and recreational anglers rely on. Groups like those benefiting from the gala carry out work such as monitoring water quality, restoring habitat, conducting scientific research, organizing volunteer cleanups and teaching students and residents about the coastal environment.

Event details

• What: Toast for the Coast, an inaugural black-tie fundraising gala
• When: 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21
• Host: CoastAL Orange Beach
• Highlights: Fine food, handcrafted cocktails, live entertainment, and silent and live auctions
• Benefits: Nine coastal conservation, research and education organizations

Those interested in attending, sponsoring or donating auction items should contact CoastAL Orange Beach for ticket information and additional details.