ARTICLE
Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s 14th annual King Neptune Gala to celebrate the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation’s (KNF’s) education mission and to honor Mayor Michael S. Purzycki with this year’s King Neptune Award was held on Saturday, September 18, 2021, at the Tatiana and Gerret Copeland Maritime Center on Wilmington’s historic Riverfront, 1124 East 7th Street, Wilmington, DE. Evening on the Christina River was hosted under tents and on Kalmar Nyckel on the ship’s maritime campus with appropriate COVID requirements in place. An entertaining evening included a dockside cocktail reception, live calypso music, silent auction with mobile bidding, delicious food stations, open bar, live auction, and the King Neptune Award presentation. Cathy Parsells, Executive Director, hosted the event along with Emcee Michael Waite (retired Mix 99.5 radio host). Light Action Productions, with newly built production facilities on East 7th Street, designed the fabulous lighting and audio visual productions for the event. Mayor Purzycki has been a visionary leader for the City of Wilmington and a strong and enthusiastic champion for the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation. He is a true believer in KNF’s education mission, and sees Kalmar Nyckel, The Tall Ship of Delaware, and the Copeland Maritime Center as a premier destination and integral part of Wilmington’s Riverfront development. His ardent support has made all the difference to the program’s growth. Her Excellency Karin Olofsdotter, Ambassador of Sweden to the U.S. attended the gala with her husband, Martin Bengtsson. Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester attended a preview party of a new exhibit at 5:00pm. Representing the Embassy of Finland: Mr. Juha Parikka, Political Counselor and his wife, Päivi. COVID plan: The event was primarily outdoors with 5,200 square feet of expanded tents. All guest seating, food, and beverages were outside. The silent auction was staged in the open-air sail loft. Masks were required inside the Copeland Maritime Center building (for restrooms). The KNF staff and volunteers are all required to be vaccinated against COVID. Guests were asked to take a health check (temperature and symptoms) before attending the event.