Luxury hotel The Loren at Pink Beach is teaming up with its hospitality partners to host a fundraising dinner and dance with all proceeds to benefit the school-based mentoring programme, YouthNet.

The “End of Summer Party” is to be held on Saturday September 28.

Hospitality partners include Two Rock Wine Company, Butterfield & Vallis, Goslings, Class Act Design, Demco, Gimi, Big Fish Events and Bermuda Bride.

Tim Sullivan, executive chef at The Loren, said: “We hope this is the first of many functions to come where people can come to the Loren and have a great time for a good cause.

“We identified YouthNet as a reputable charity that truly helps to set Bermuda’s youth on the right path through their mentoring programmes. Speaking with YouthNet, and then with our staff, we discovered that some of them had either gone to YouthNet for guidance, or participated with them in giving guidance to the young people of Bermuda.

“I am super excited about the event, and super passionate to see where the relationship can go. How can we open the eyes and ears of younger Bermudians to show them the wonderful hospitality industry?

“We also hope in the near future to mentor Bermuda’s youth who are interested in the industry. Being in the hospitality business, it really is a labour of love for all of us involved and it is good for those who are interested to be exposed to the industry at a young age.”

He added: “To serve, is to be served. The students that we are mentoring today through the assistance of YouthNet essentially will be the future leaders of Bermuda and the future leaders of Bermuda’s hospitality industry.”

The event has been created with a focus on The Loren’s dedication to sustainability, the hotel said. The menu is centred around local ingredients and produce.

Mr Sullivan said: “We also always aim to support our local suppliers, fishermen and farmers, and we have partnered with the Sexy Reef Ambassadors, who are known for protecting the reef and hopefully will be supplying us with lionfish for the night.”

Clare Mello is executive director of YouthNet, which aims to empower Bermuda’s youth to make positive life choices. She said: “We are incredibly grateful to The Loren and all of the hospitality vendors that have come together to make this event possible. The economic climate over the last five years has made fundraising more challenging for all non-profits.

“YouthNet recognises the importance of a diversified fundraising portfolio, one which includes donations from the public and private sectors, individual partnership initiatives and events.”

Ms Mello added: “This end of summer party at the Loren is an innovative and very fun way to raise funds. Their contribution will go a long way to support our mentoring programme which currently serves over 400 students in 16 schools island-wide.”

The event has two-tiered pricing, with tickets to the three-course wine dinner and dance available for $195. Tickets to the dance are $125, but Mr Sullivan said that “food moments” will be available between 8pm and midnight with items from the new menu at the hotel. Both tiers include an open bar. Tickets are on sale now at www.ptix.bm.

For more information about the event, call 293-1666