Watson, with colleagues from RSBP Events, One Fine Day, Botanica International Design Studio, Showorks, and Conceptbait Global Events and Floral Design Group, developed the event decor around the theme of the sun.
“The whole idea was to replicate the sun because it symbolizes life, strength, and energy. We wanted the room to feel bright and cheery,” she said.
Decorators draped the entry hallway with white fabric and illuminated it with LED lighting in red, orange, and yellow leading into the ballroom. Cocktails tables in the hallway followed the same color scheme, with the first ones topped with red linens, then orange, and then yellow, while framed photos of the children from the calendar lined the walls. Inside the ballroom, the lighting and linens again transitioned from yellow to orange to red in the rear, with tabletop floral arrangements in the same tones.
Many of the children featured in the calendar attended the party with their families, so organizers wanted to make the event child-friendly. The menu included childhood favorites such as pizza, mac and cheese, chicken skewers, and pigs in a blanket.
In addition to ticket and calendar sales, the event raised money with a live auction and the sale of wine and martini glasses painted by children from the center. To represent the cancer center’s motto of “Kids should fly a kite, not fight cancer,” organizers also sold kites, each labeled with the name of one of the young patients and his or her diagnosis.
![E20189sa3](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/03/e20189sa3.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Each of the six live-auction packages included a piece of framed artwork created by a child from the center.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_36.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Children from the cancer center painted more than 100 wine and martini glasses, which were sold at the party.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_12.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Dessert included ice cream from Tampa Bay D'Lites and a whimsical cake from the Cake Zone.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_20.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Organizers used kites, each labeled with the name of a young cancer patient, as decor and also sold them to attendees.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_25.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![IM Events created LED-illuminated plexiglass tables to display the wine and martini glasses painted by the children.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_29.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The Don Cesar Beach Resort hosted the party and provided catering.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_02.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Bay Stage Lighting created a polka-dot backdrop for the entertainment from Phase5 Band.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_06.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![The menu included childhood favorites such as fresh vegetables and ranch dressing, presented in a shot glass for a more sophisticated look.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_39.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)
![Many of the children featured in the calendar attended the party with their families.](https://img.bizbash.com/files/base/bizbash/bzb/image/2011/11/e20189cc_45.png?auto=format%2Ccompress&q=70&w=400)