By Amber Jurgensen | Associate Editor
You can’t be overdressed at this gala. The first Jeans and Jacket Gala is taking place Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Strawberry Festival Expo Hall.
The gala is hosted by The Youth Alliance, an organization geared toward helping children reach their potential and inspiring them to become leaders in their homes, schools and community.
“It’s really bringing a lot of awareness to The Youth Alliance,” organizer Peggy Nelson said. “It gives us an opportunity for us to share with people about The Youth Alliance. This organization really makes a difference.”
The Youth Alliance coordinates speakers to travel to different schools in Plant City and Tampa. Speakers talk to students who are having problems.
One speaker tries to inspire students to focus on the future, no matter what their past is, by sharing a story about his childhood. He came from a broken home after his mother gave him to her 10th-grade teacher because she could not take care of him.
“The impact that these presenters make — you can hear a pin drop in an auditorium of 1,000 kids,” Nelson said. “A lot of the students just don’t have anyone whether they’re bullied or feel like they’re not pretty enough. They need someone to know they care.”
Nelson and her husband, Mike, got involved in The Youth Alliance at an event, after the founder talked with Mike.
“Something connected there,” Nelson said.
Students have written letters to The Youth Alliance about the impact the assemblies have had on them, some even admitting they wanted to commit suicide before the presentation.
Mike Nelson flew up to New Jersey to train and see other assemblies and banquets. The Plant City native brought back what he learned to his community and started a local chapter about four years ago. He left his position as the youth pastor at Church of God to focus on The Youth Alliance full time as the chief operations officer.
“He’s able to make an impact on students on a broader scale now,” Nelson said. “He’s very passionate about helping.”
Tickets to the Jeans and Jacket Gala are $60 per person or $480 per table, which seats eight people. A prime rib dinner will be served.
A number of celebrity guests will be present for a meet and greet. Anthony “Booger” McFarland, a former defensive tackle with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NHL hockey player Jassen Cullimore, Seth Franco, a former Harlem Globetrotter, and WWE’s “Little Boogyman,” Chris Hollyfield, are among the athletic special guests for the evening.
A silent auction with prizes, including signed jerseys, autographed footballs, stadium club seat tickets and other sports memorabilia, such as helmets, baseballs and bats, will help raise more money for The Youth Alliance.
Nelson came up with the theme of the event. Mike Nelson coordinated the silent-auction items and celebrity guests along with the help of Darek Sharp, who works in sports radio as a host and producer, and Mark Cook, a writer for a Buccaneer digital paper and a sports radio host, who were able to contact many of the athletes.
The Mike Storter Award will also be given out to someone in the community who demonstrates character and devotion to service. Six nominations were received for the award.
“He was a huge role model to the community, and we wanted to honor Mike,” Nelson. “He represents everything The Youth Alliance stands for, helping and working with kids.”
Mike Storter was a health and physical education teacher at Plant City High School and was involved with college ministry at First Baptist Church of Plant City. He died from leukemia this summer at age 45.
“We are excited about the event,” Nelson said. “We wanted something to be fun, but still a nice event.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Jeans and Jacket Gala
When: 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 27
Where: Strawberry Festival Expo Hall, 303 Lemon St.
Price: $60 per person, $480 per table
Website: jeansandjacket.org
Contact: (813) 719-0245