Over $368,000 Raised By Newly-Crowned 2016 FANTASY FEST Royalty To Benefit AIDS Help

The four Candidates vying for King and Queen of FANTASY FEST 2016 raised a staggering $368,330.00 to benefit AIDS Help of Monroe County, Inc. and, in doing so, became part of the Agency’s Royal Legacy.

Before a sell-out crowd at last Friday’s Royal Coronation Ball, presented by the Casa Marina, a Waldorf Astoria Resort,  named Queen was Jane Rohrschneider; King was Christopher Rounds. Tommy Ryan was announced Duke and Kristen Livengood Duchess.

“It is truly dazzling and humbling,” remarked Scott Pridgen, Executive Director of AIDS Help. “These four people and their teams worked tirelessly as goodwill ambassadors for AIDS Help for eight weeks.” There were martinis, bunches of brunches and oodles of orchids. They cruised the sunset, roasted a pig, wined and designed and went diving for coins when they weren’t donning pink or wearing kilts, picnicking or singing along with Howard Livingston. “Still, I personally never imagined they would generate this level of money” -– the 2nd highest raised by Candidates in the 27 years of Royal fundraising.

The 2016 Royal Coronation Ball was directed and hosted by J.b. McLendon; Nadene Grossman Orr/We’ve Got The Keys produced.

Before the Coronation also came word that the newly-crowned Fantasy Fest King and Queen would also be leading the approximately 50 floats and walking groups of the Saturday night parade as Grand Marshals.

“Fantasy Fest has always been about throwing a really good party – and the parade is the centerpiece of that – but it is also about supporting the well-being of our community and giving back,” said Linda O’Brien, Fantasy Fest Executive Director.

“It was a welcome acknowledgment of 30 years’ worth of service to Monroe County,” Pridgen noted. “That we are so generously permitted to raise funds in association with FANTASY FEST for our annual King and Queen campaign is reward enough.”

“Our work as an Agency isn’t done and in many ways, has more urgency than ever,” Pridgen added. “So this, as we go into our fourth decade serving the Florida Keys, is thrilling…that our new Royals will set the tone for the massive Saturday night parade!”

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