If you read my last blog, then you know that Fantasy Fest is Key West’s equivalent to the New Orleans’ Mardi Gras.  Fantasy Fest week kicks off with the crowning of the king & queen on October 22nd.  Five candidates compete to see who raises the most money for AIDS Help, our local AIDS/HIV support agency.  The king candidate and queen candidate with the highest total are crowned. Each of the candidates will be featured over the next 5 weeks in alphabetical order.

ELAINE CHINNIS IS RUNNING FOR QUEEN.  She has been a long time resident with a little hiatus on the west coast of Florida.  Employed by Vox Communications, she does promotions and advertising for the community on 104.1 US1 Radio (The Official Station of the Florida Keys) and 98.7 Conch Country.  Elaine is also a licensed real estate broker who owns Key West Real Estate Sales, Inc. 

I met Elaine years ago through a mutual friend, Tom Luna, when he and Nancy D’Amato were doing a live radio broadcast from the newly constructed Ocean Key House.  Elaine worked for the Key West Theatre Festival and had helped to create their major fundraiser known as the “Master Chef’s Classic.”  As it was, she was getting ready to leave our little island and Tom thought I would be a good person to take over the event.  Long story short, I did take it over and ran it for 9 years before it was entrusted to the MARC House.  It truly was a magnificent event and reflects Elaine’s wonderful creativity and generous spirit.  When she returned to the island, we were again friends like no time had passed from that day at the Ocean Key.

Having been involved in many charity activities over the years, she announced as she turned 50 that this was the year to run for Queen and give back to the community in major way.  She has been creative in her campaign — thinking outside of the box—actually into a cage.  You will see her at her many events as the “Bird in a Cage” asking you to donate to “set her free” so to speak.  For every $5.00 donation the giver gets a choice to be entered into one of her two raffle drawings – 2 night stay in La Pensione B&B in Key West or Ruby of the River Ranch on the Colorado River.  She has also enlisted numerous bands and entertainers to help her at her events.  For more information about Elaine and her upcoming events, visit www.elaineforqueen./com

Right now Elaine needs MORE SPONORS for the highlighted event of my campaign for Queen of Fantasy Fest and it’s a WIN WIN for you, great advertising PACKAGE for the money and it’s TAX DEDUCTIBLE!  The event is “Cigars, Spirits and Sunset” at the Pier House Resort on Oct. 8th. It’s invitation only with an impressive list of Key West persona.  Each SPONSOR will be on http://www.elaineforqueen.com.com - with your logo and a link to your site of choice for the duration of the campaign and http://www.floridakeys.com  and http://www.keywest.com will be linking to my site this week.  Also, each sponsor will be included in at least 84 RADIO commercials leading up to the event and after on both stations US1 RADIO AND CONCH COUNTRY.  AND you will receive two FREE tickets to the event.   
ALL this for $200 as an in kind donation to AIDS Help. This is for the HIGH LIGHTED EVENT of my Campaign for Queen Of Fantasy Fest…Hand Rolled Cigars, Spirits Tastings, Fabulous Appetizers and we even throw in a Key West Sunset!  RICK WORTH is creating a special work of ART to be AUCTIONED off and with your tickets, you will automatically be entered into the drawing.  WHAT MORE COULD YOU WANT—O.K. O.K. O.K   LARRY SMITH TO BE PERFORMING WITH DUELING   DIVA’S:  KATHLEEN PEACE , VICKI ROUSH ,  JAMIE OLWELL and CAMILLE TOLAR.  I need the sponsorship to make this happen, SO please contact me as soon as possible, limited number of sponsorships available. Call 304-3675 or email me at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
. Ginger King is a Broker Associate at Last Key Realty on Duval Street in Key West and a Mortgage Broker.  She has long been involved in helping her island community and to bring the best of “Sharing and Caring” possible to make Key West & the Florida Keys the magical place it is to live.  For more information about Ginger, visit www.gingerkingkeywest.com