The 7th annual Gecko Ball on August 29 at the Gulfport Casino set a new record in attendance with over 400 attendees decked out in Gecko Gras theme, Gulfport’s version of Mardi Gras. A highlight of the evening was the auction of original gecko art created by nine local artists for the annual charity auction. All nine artists’ larger-than-life geckos were on display prior to the Gecko Ball at various businesses throughout the Gulfport Waterfront District.
According to Daniel Hodge of the Gulfport Merchants Association (GMA), the silent auctions raised approximately $10,000, and the event as a whole raised nearly $18,000.
“A portion of proceeds from all Gecko events, including the Gecko Crawl, Gecko Ball and GeckoFest, is dedicated to charitable organizations and causes each year,” says Hodge. “This year’s recipients of community grants from the GMA are CASA (Community Action Stops Abuse), the Circle of Friends of the Gulfport Public Library, the Daystar Life Center and the Sonia Plotnick Health Fund.”
In addition to the charities that will receive grants, Gecko events fund the mission of the non-profit GMA in promoting visitation and a healthy climate for business and the arts in Gulfport’s Waterfront District.
To view this year’s gecko art, go to thegabber.com/local-artists-kick-off-gecko-season.
