As the slight breeze came across the docks near the Manatee Center, volunteers set up on the evening of May 9th for the first-annual Kimberly Pearson Memorial Foundation “Friend-Raiser” in Fort Pierce. National Honor Society and Key Club members from Fort Pierce Central High School covered tables with purple and gold table cloths, carefully unpacked the sale items, and curated tables with paintings, ceramics, sculptures, and crocheted artworks. Mrs. Heather Blackmon’s sculpture students from Westwood Academy joined David Graham’s drawing, painting, and ceramics students from Port St. Lucie High School, as well as Fort Pierce Central High School artists from Mrs. Amy Montabana’s Digitial Art class, Mrs. Royo-Yeno’s drawing and painting classes, Mrs. LaPrade’s FPC Crochet club, and Mrs. Katie Avra’s ceramics classes in donated hand-made artworks in honor of a new and flourishing partnership with the Manatee Center and its managing director Jessica Kadie-Barclay.
Co-Event Organizer Katie Avra, Trustee of the Kimberly Pearson Memorial Foundation at FPC, poses happily with Manatee Center Managing Director Jessica Kadie-Barclay.
Artwork was staged to sell with proceeds benefiting future endeavors at the Manatee Center. While the smooth sounds of jazz and blues came across the nearby ocean waves, this vibrant community event showcased the celebration of art, music, and environmental education, honoring the legacy of Kimberly Pearson, our beloved teacher and marine biologist.
The evening featured live music by the Silver Mullets of the Fort Pierce Jazz & Blues Society, delicious food from High on the Hog BBQ, and creative mocktails from Steamworks Coffee-bar. The “Friend-Raiser” was designed to bring together families, neighbors, and friends to support the next generation of artists, scientists, and change-makers. Thanks to the Donnelly Family, the LaPrade Family, the Neikirk family, and all the community members who came out to support this multifaceted, worthy event!
Pictured on left are Olivia and Christina Donnely with Angela LaPrade centered, followed by Katie Avra and Kherington Neikirk.
All smiles from our Steamworks Coffee-bar volunteer!
Hitting all the notes from the Silver Mullets of the Fort Pierce Jazz and Blues Society.
National Honor Society Volunteers
Mrs. Avra and Ceramics II student Kherington Neikirk examine a special surface treatment of bubble glazing and smoothly trimmed foot from the potter’s wheel.
This teacher and student duo collaborated on a trio of nesting bowls with Mrs. Avra throwing and trimming the bowls on the wheel and Kherington glazing each bowl by hand. The Donnelly family took home the brightly glazed jelly fish collection from the silent auction.
Special Teacher Appreciation flowers from Annali Llanos to Mrs. Avra adorned the silent auction and KP Memorial Foundation Table. 
