A red rose covered the table settings complete with red napkins, the 42nd street band was decked in black suits with red ties, the lights were dimmed and love was in the air on Valentine's Day at Longboat Key Club and Resort's Harborside Dining Room. But this wasn't just a normal dinner and dance, it was the Kiwanis Club of Longboat Key's Valentine's Day Ball.
The fundraiser for the Kiwanis Foundation, which grants scholarships and grants to local students and organizations, rose upward of $18,000. Last year, the money went to 21 area scholarships and gave grants to local organizations: Guardian Ad Litem, Community Haven, Boys and Girls Club (in both counties), Girls Inc., Ation Club and Dance, the Next Generation.