GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Prepare for a dizzying race around the globe and join the Florida Museum of Natural History for a thrilling quest at the “Passport to: Around the World in 80 Days” gala Feb. 20 from 7 to 11 p.m.

This year’s event features dinner catered by Blue Water Bay, the ultimate voyage created by Keith Watson Productions and dancing with The Savants of Soul. This is the first year the gala is raising funds for children’s educational programming through the museum’s Center for Science Learning.

“We want to offer a variety of engaging opportunities that foster students’ sense of wonder and discovery,” said Betty Dunckel. Florida Museum Center for Science Learning director. “We hope these experiences will generate excitement, expand interests and deepen understanding of science and its importance in our daily lives.”

Proceeds will provide critical funds to support museum projects for pre-K through 12th-grade students, including admission assistance for Title 1 schools, outreach to elementary classrooms and after-school programs, the junior volunteer program and scholarships for camps.

Through scholarships provided to the Alachua Multi-County Migrant Education Program, about 8 percent of students in the museum’s summer camps are children of migrant workers. In 2010, the number of camp scholarships available for this program was cut in half and scholarships for other students were discontinued due to a lack of funding.

“For our students, this is the only opportunity to attend a camp like this and be exposed to hands-on learning,” said Maria Victoria Gomez de la Torre-Pelegrina, teacher specialist for the Alachua Multi-County Migrant Education Program. “Most of them have never visited a museum.”

Hosted by the Florida Museum Associates Board, the fundraiser is called “Passport” because it whisks attendees to another time, era or locale with a new theme each year. Guests are encouraged to pick a country and dress in costume to represent the globe-spanning journey. Individual tickets for non-reserved seating are $150.

“We would love to fill Powell Hall with supporters who are passionate about our community, our museum and our young scientists of tomorrow,” said Steve Shepherd, vice president and gala committee chair of the Florida Museum Associates Board.

For more information, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/passport. Purchase tickets online at http://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/passport/purchase-tickets/ or contact Brittany Snipes, bsnipes@flmnh.ufl.edu or 352-273-2086. To become a sponsor, contact Kara Schwartz, kschwartz@flmnh.ufl.edu, at 352-273-2047.

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Writer: Katina Prokos, kprokos@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Marie Emmerson, 352-256-9614, emmerson@ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu