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Stepping into DAER Nightclub at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Hollywood, FL on May 18 was like stepping back in time… A multi-colored haze hung over the partygoers decked out in their retro fashions. This night was a chance to go back to the 1970s for a special Studio 54 party put on by the FLITE Center once again. And this evening, somehow, was even better than the year before. Dance lovers showed off their best disco moves in every free space available and swarmed the stage. Others grabbed a drink at the open bar, mingled and engaged in some heavy people-watching. There were plenty of ways to capture the moment, including numerous photo opps. And there was swag aplenty. Not only did people leave with swag bags, but there were also a ton of toiletries that they could take home from toothbrushes to bandaids, and candy too.
But the highlight of the evening was the entertainment, as “Donna Summer,” aka Velvet Lenore, took the stage and “Cher,” aka Michael Dean, rocked the house, even walking through the crowd of fans.
Although the event was plenty of fun, it also benefited a serious cause. The FLITE Center is a one-stop resource center offering supportive services to youth aging out of foster care, chronically homeless youth, human trafficking survivors and LGBTQ+ youth. The event raised more than $101,500. One of the women who once benefited from the program now works for the organization and she had a chance to talk with the crowd about the importance of the FLITE Center.
People could participate in several ways to benefit the cause, including through the raffle, which had excellent prizes, from packages to trips. Luxury Raffle Item Winners: Private Flight to Key West & Lunch for 2 (Donated by Premier Aircraft — $3,000 value): Winner: Silvia Isaacs; Lifestyle Mag. Full-page Ad (Donated by Lifestyle Media Group — $7,500 value): Winner: Travis Pfeffer; The Suite Life Experience (Donated by DEX Imaging — $2,000 value): Winner: Leonard Piojda Jr.; South Florida Business & Wealth 2-page Spread (Donated by Lifestyle Media Group — $11,940 value): Winner: Richard Hopper; Donated by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino — Midweek Bora Bora Cabana Experience @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Guitar Hotel Pool ($2,550 value): Winner: Tiffani Dhooge; Weekend Bora Bora Experience @ Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Guitar Hotel Pool ($5,220 value): Winner: Dionne Absheer; “Party Like A Rock Star” Guitar Basket ($950 value): Winner: Linda Parker; Winterfest Boat Parade Grand Marshal Experience ($1000 value): Winner: David Griffiths; Rock Spa Basket: Winner: Travis Pfeffer
“STUDIO 54 Rewind” was presented by Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood and sponsored by Memorial Healthcare System, Bank of America, Broward Health, Waterfall Bank, Walgreens, SouthState Bank, Synovus, GPR | Goodman Public Relations, “OUTClique,” Coldwell Banker Realty Cares Foundation, Dex Imaging, GrayRobinson, Premiere Aircraft Sales, Strategic Benefits and Tower Club. Media sponsors are Lifestyle Media Group and “South Florida Business & Wealth.” In-kind sponsors include Muscle Vodka, Funky Buddha Brewery, Lyres Prosecco, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Papa’s Pilar Rum Ernest Hemingway, Southern Glazer Wine & Spirits, Todd’s Catering and Covar Global Marketing.
The event was so amazing that people did not want it to end so they headed downstairs to PLA Sports Bar for the after party. They also could partake in all the fun that the Hard Rock provides.
Missed this year? There is always next year, so get your disco outfit ready. For more information on the FLITE Center, visit flitecenter.org.