Annual Fundraiser

Thank You for Making Our Summer Soirée a Success!

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who helped make this year’s Summer Soirée such a joyful celebration—our generous sponsors, auction donors, dedicated volunteers, and all who attended and supported the evening. Your enthusiasm and contributions help sustain our vibrant programming year-round. Thank you for being part of the La Grua Center community!

Friday, June 5, 2026 at 6 PM

La Grua Center, 32 Water St., Stonington Borough

COUNTDOWN TO THE PARTY!

Days

Hours

Minutes

Seconds

Cocktails + Hors D'Oeuvres

6:00 PM

Live Auction + Paddle Raise with Dennis Palmer

7:15 PM

Post-Auction Reception

7:45 PM

An Evening In Support of Our Mission

Join us for an evening in support of our mission to engage community through arts and culture, helping La Grua Center present vibrant programs that inspire, connect, and enrich our region.

soirée details

The party returns to La Grua Center! In-person capacity is limited. Tickets on sale May 1st!
Enjoy delicious small bites from Dog Watch Catering, along with a selection of beer and wine from Cove Ledge, a special cocktail and spirit tasting from Veritable Distillery.
Live Auction and Paddle Raise to support our programs and facility with local favorite, Dennis Palmer.
Bid on unique local treasures and experiences at our Silent Auction.
Dress is summer chic.

Donate

If you would like to donate to the 2026 Summer Soirée, click the link below. Proceeds from the Soirée will support the annual programming and operating budget of La Grua Center.

Featured Auction Items

A sneak peak of some of our auction items. Don’t miss out, purchase your tickets today!

Dinner Aboard Cortina for 10

Generously donated by: Wendy & Dave Eck, Good Dog Yacht Charters

Step aboard Cortina, a stunning 64-foot custom Huckins motor yacht, for an unforgettable dockside dinner in beautiful Stonington Harbor. Your party of 10 will enjoy an elegant three-hour dining experience at Dodson’s Boatyard, surrounded by sweeping harbor views of Stonington Borough. This exclusive evening includes food and beverage generously provided by Dog Watch Catering.

PRIVATE DINNER FOR 8 at THE LIBRARy AT THE SHIPWRIGHT'S DAUGHTER

Generously donated by: Kathleen and David Standridge, The Shipwright's Daughter

Husband-and-wife team David and Kathleen Standridge will host an exclusive dinner for your party of 8 in the “library,” a private dining room at The Shipwright’s Daughter in Mystic, CT. You’ll be wowed with a curated menu by James Beard Award-Winning Chef David; and wine pairings by Kathleen, named one of Wine Enthusiast’s 50 Most Forward-Thinking Sommeliers in the country, with a wine list featured in Vogue, The New York Times, Wine Spectator & Wine Enthusiast.l

Thanks to all silent and live auction donors

Generous donors have outdone themselves this year, and these exceptional auction items will be available for bidding only at the Soirée, either in person or by proxy.

Be sure to get your tickets before it’s too late!

Anonymous
Back Door Kitchen & Pizza
Ann Baldelli & Don Raffo
Beth Black and Randy Bean
Big Night Entertainment Group
Bravo Bravo
Ian Cooke
Cove Ledge
Delamar Mystic
Lori and Dave Dyer
Go Fish
Gourmet Galley
Max Greenberg & Heidi Scheller
High Rollers at Foxwoods
Inn at Stonington
Kingdom of the Hawk Vineyard
C Griffith Mann
George Moore
Janvier Miller
Noah’s Restaurant
Dennis Palmer and Gerry Klender
Port of Call
Diane Reynolds and Kip Colligan
River Bar
Damien Rocherolle
Saltmarsh Ledge
Saltwater Farm Vineyard
Shipwright’s Daughter, Mystic
Kim Smith
Mark & Kim Spano
Kathleen & David Standridge
Stone Acres
Stonington Garden Club
TF DesignWorks
The Café
Verdant
Veritable Distillery, LLC
Trish and Brandon Watson
Weekapaug Inn