Thursday, September 25, 6:00 pm
Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro
Tickets $150
We anticipate a sold out event!
Mandarin Museum & Historical Society is thrilled to host its 2025 annual fundraising dinner on Thursday, September 25th at Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro. With a theme of “Always the River,” the evening will be a true celebration of what has been foundational to our love for the community and its history – the St. Johns River!
The evening begins at 6:00 pm with Mandarin Museum’s Board of Directors welcoming guests for cocktail hour and the opening of the silent auction. The fun continues as Chef Dennis Chan presents a custom curated four-course menu. Throughout, guests will enjoy a fun-filled program of speakers and entertainment chronicling the river’s central role in the history and culture of Mandarin, including a very special “Always the River” musical performance by museum house band The Orange Pickers. Mandarin Museum will also bestow its inaugural Always the River Award on the 2025 honorees for their role in ensuring the St. Johns River remains in the hearts, minds, and hands of the community.
Our 2025 Always the River Award recipients are Dr. Keith Holland and his St. Johns Archaeological Expeditions team who dove and excavated the Maple Leaf shipwreck site. Team members include: (pictured left to right, back row) John Pugliese, Bobby Lunsford, Steve Michaelis, Ron Gebhard. Not pictured are Larry Tipping, Paul Kramer, and Lee Manly. (Lee Manly will be honored posthumously.)
The Maple Leaf Divers, posing in front of artist Julie Fetzer’s floor-to-ceiling map in Mandarin Museum’s exhibit showing the location of the Maple Leaf shipwreck site.
Since our founding, Mandarin Museum & Historical Society has preserved and shared Mandarin’s past, not only for our present, but also to ensure a future firmly rooted in a longstanding sense of community. As Mandarin’s famed riverfront resident, Harriet Beecher Stowe, once remarked, “The past, the present, and the future are really one: they are today.” Proceeds from our 3rd annual fundraising dinner will enable Mandarin Museum to continue this mission by supporting operations and an array of programs that educate, entertain, and inspire.
Thank you to our 2025 Presenting Sponsor!
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
Sponsors
for Museum Volunteer Dinner Tickets
In-kind Sponsors
Blue Bamboo Canton Bistro
Olis Garber Photography
AVL Productions
Thank you to all who attended who attended our 2024 2nd Annual Fundraising Dinner: Celebrating 35 Years of Mandarin Museum! Together, we raised more than $17,000 in support of Mandarin Museum’s annual programming and operating budget.
Honoring the Museum’s 35th anniversary, it was a true celebration of our decades-long love for the community and the incredible impact of our mission over time!
The evening began as Mandarin Museum’s Board of Directors welcomed guests for cocktail hour and the opening of the silent auction. The fun continued as Chef Dennis Chan presented his custom curated four-course menu based on Mandarin’s food scene as it was in 1989. Throughout, guests enjoyed a fun-filled program of speakers and entertainment chronicling the Museum’s 35 years, including a very special “Music Under the Oaks” performance.
The highlight was a special screening of the short film, Celebrating 35 Years of Mandarin Museum, produced by our dear friend, Olis Garber. Enjoy the extended version below.
Since our founding, Mandarin Museum & Historical Society has preserved and shared Mandarin’s past, not only for our present, but also to ensure a future firmly rooted in a longstanding sense of community. As Mandarin’s famed former resident, Harriet Beecher Stowe, once remarked, “The past, the present, and the future are really one: they are today.” Proceeds from our 2nd annual fundraising dinner will enable Mandarin Museum to continue this mission by supporting operations and an array of programs that educate, entertain, and inspire.
Weren’t able to attend but still want to support Mandarin Museum with a tax-deductible gift? Consider making a donation in lieu of attendance
Thank you to our generous sponsors!
Cocktail Hour
Event Sponsors
Dr. Edward N. Cohill, USN (Ret)
Patrick Plumlee & Laura D’Alisera
