The Catalina Island Conservancy and nearly 500 guests celebrated the 23rd Annual Conservancy Ball on Saturday, April 14, in the historic Avalon Casino Ballroom.

Many guests arrived in adventure inspired black tie attire in honor of the ball’s theme, Adventure Starts Here, and they danced into the evening to the Big Band sounds of Society Beat. They bid on one-of-a-kind auction items, including a hand-painted Balthazar of Rusack wine, helping to raise more than $650,000 for the Conservancy’s programs to restore and protect the Island and provide educational and nature-based recreational opportunities on the 42,000 acres it stewards.

With the progress of the IMAGINE CATALINA campaign, the Catalina Island Conservancy is working to create new opportunities for visitors and residents to explore California’s best back yard: Catalina Island. Trekking Catalina and the Trailhead are vital to understanding how to best use Catalina Island and will contribute significantly to the life-long learning, scientific research and enriched engagement with nature that the organization offers to all ages.

The Conservancy was thrilled to kick off the countdown to the grand opening of the Trailhead Visitor Center and to invite visitors and residents to join them later this year to celebrate the occasion. In anticipation of the opening, guests enjoyed a short video highlighting just a few of the many adventures that start at the Trailhead and dive deep into the interior: hiking, biking, camping, Conservancy Eco Tours and so much more!

“We wish to thank all our guests for their support of the Catalina Island Conservancy and their commitment to restoring and protecting Catalina Island for future generations,” said Budrovich. “We are also extremely grateful to our many sponsors who gave so generously to underwrite this event, including our Key Corporate Sponsors, Capital Group and Edison International; our Sponsor Reception Partner, Bluewater Avalon; and our various community partners and individual sponsors."

Thank you to all for joining us and helping to raise over $650,000!

We hope to see you next year! Save the date for the 24th Annual Catalina Island Conservancy Ball on Saturday, April 6, 2019.

A Special Thanks to our Sponsors:

Charging Station Partner
Edison International

Live Auction Partner
Capital Group

Sponsor Reception Partner
Bluewater Avalon

Community Partners

Albus-Keefe and Associates

Aon Risk Solutions

Catalina Beverage

Catalina Express

Crevier Classic Cars

Mitchell Silberberg & Knupp LLP

Moffatt and Nichol/Michael Baker International

Mutual of America

Seacrest Developers

T.C. Collins and Associates

Sponsors

Steve and Pat Chazen

Geoffrey Claflin and Alison Wrigley Rusack
Blanny Avalon Hagenah

Tricia and Will Hagenah

Catalina Island Company

Randy and K.C. Boelsems

Camp Emerald Bay, WLACC-BSA

Gary and Kellie Johnson

Maria Pellegrini

The Redsun Family Trust

Shaun and Katy Tucker

Catalina Island Marine Institute

Scott and Tammie Stuart

Mike and Gloria Sullivan

Avalon Environmental Services

Catalina Classic Cruises

Roger and Sarah Chrisman

Connolly Pacific Co.

Patty Hathaway

Hank and Diane Hilty

Mari and Patrick McAlister

Greg and Debbie Schem

Trent and Linda Anderson

Cinde Macgugan-Cassidy and Mike Cassidy

C. David and Andi Culbertson

Victoria and Dorn Dean

Robert and Carolyn Duncan

Steve and Linda Glanville

Larry and Terry Grill

Lee Harrison

Geraldine Knatz and John Mulvey

Drew and Jane Lanza

S Y Lee Associates, Inc. in Support of Camp Emerald Bay

MATT Construction

Ann Muscat and Jack Baldelli

Calen and Amber Offield

Mike and Elizabeth Rabbit

San Diego Yacht Club

Rebecca and Richard Waycott

Julie and Rob Woolley

USC Wrigley Institute for Environmental Studies