Roy's Charity Dinner and Anniversary

by Erin Thursby
On the First Coast holding a tasteful evening for a good cause is something of an art. At Roy’s in Jacksonville Beach, they’ve got that art down to a science. The Monique Burr Foundation for Children held its annual fund raising event, “A Night in the Village,” at Roy’s Restaurant. The dress was beach elegant, the bar was open and the food was superb.
Heavy hor d’oeuvres were the order of the evening. Butterfish flaked off my fork, slathered in a complementary pan-Asian sauce. We dined on perfectly fresh seared tuna, drank superb cocktails and finished things off with some cleverly rendered desserts.
As with many charity dinners, this one had a silent auction gift baskets from the stores in the Village Shopping Plaza, among other places. A Starbucks gift basket, jewelry, a lamp and even a gourmet gift basket for a very lucky dog were all on the table!
A thrilling live auction was also part of the action, with Roy Yamaguchi himself offering a private dinner for 10.
Best of all was the entertainment for the evening, Prince Pele’s Polynesian Revue. Hawaiian hula, fire dancing and even getting some fun-loving guests (guys!) on stage in hula skirts were all part of the show. Some children from the audience got up after watching one of the dance troop’s young boys perform with the poi, balls attached to string that are swung rapidly around the body during dance.
As fun as the evening was, the reason for the night is more important. The Monique Burr Foundation for Children works to educate children so that we can stop the cycle of abuse. They also have programs available for high-risk families, teaching some of the skills needed to be good parents. A good time and a great cause!