FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (FCMA) will host the annual Grand Grunion Gala on Saturday evening, May 16, 2009 at Cabrillo Marine Aquarium.  More than 450 guests including business and community leaders, scientists, public officials, and educators will attend the black-tie affair.  The non-profit’s largest fundraiser benefits the Aquarium’s educational programs, exhibits and displays, and raises over $200,000 annually.  This year, attendees will come together to celebrate honorees, Dr. Donald J. Reish, Jim and Nancy Welsh, and COSEE-West.

The Grand Grunion Gala features a live and silent auction.  Some of the items available for guests to bid on include a trip to Fiji, with airfare plus five nights at Namale Resort and Spa, one of Fiji’s two 5-star resorts.  The trip is all-inclusive, including sports activities such as snorkeling, sailing and horseback riding, as well as all meals and beverages.  Other auction items feature a trip for two on the Goodyear Blimp, and vacation options such as a dive expedition in Australia and a trip to Mazatlan, plus gourmet gift baskets, fine wine, art, jewelry and many other unique items.

Individual tickets are $175 per person and sponsorship packages are available. For more information about ads, auction donations, event tickets and volunteering, please contact the event coordinator, West Enterprises at (310) 227-8100 or kadams@westenterprises.info.

Major sponsors of the Grand Grunion Gala include: Jeffrey P. Neu, ConocoPhillips, Port of Los Angeles, Tesoro-Wilmington Refinery and Valero.

FRIENDS of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide support to the educational, scientific and other related activities of Cabrillo Marine Aquarium through various avenues including membership, volunteers and grants.