2026 Gala Recap

The Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium held its annual benefit gala on Saturday, February 7, 2026.

The Enchantment Under the Sea gala was presented by Florida Trust Wealth Management, which has been the presenting sponsor for the Museum’s annual benefit events for 22 consecutive years.

Attendees went Back to the Future in attire fit for a 1950’s Saturday Night Dance, or in festive garb from the 1980’s, and enjoyed an evening of camaraderie at The Community House on Sanibel Island.

Enchantment Under the Sea was a tremendous success, raising funds to expand the Museum’s school programs with an exciting auction of original items and experiences and a Paddles Up! It was yet another unforgettable celebration, with live music by The Rockefellers filling the dance floor into the night.

The Museum’s school programs have reached maximum capacity in each of the last three years, and the time is now to invest in the future to increase our ability to reach more schools and students throughout Southwest Florida, for many years to come.

Funds raised at the gala will support the additional vehicles, educational materials, and staffing needed to serve a broader network of schools; and most importantly to make these programs available at reduced or no cost to schools, most of which are Title 1 (high rates of low-income families).

All participating students receive first-hand experience with live mollusks and marine life, shell identification games and interactive activities, and education about conservation, the importance of clean water, and our Southwest Florida coastal ecosystems. For many students, it is their first exposure to shells, the animals that make them, and these educational themes.

We are grateful for our community’s interest, attendance, participation, and overwhelming generosity. THANK YOU for this important investment in the Museum’s future!