Two-dozen corporate, foundation, and individual donors have committed more than $35,000 to help the Virginia Institute of Marine Science host its 2008 Art Show and Auction, which is scheduled for April 25th and 26th in Gloucester Point.

The donations help defray expenses for the Auction, thereby freeing proceeds to benefit student research at the Institute. Leading the charge are "Grand Slam" sponsors Riverside Health System Foundation, Bluewater Yacht Sales, and the Owens Foundation. Other donors include the Ronald West Family Foundation, Smurfit-Stone Containerboard, BB&T, Chesapeake Bank, Colonial Virginia Bank, Dominion Resources Services, Inc., GMAC Financial Services, Phillips Energy, Inc., SunTrust Bank, Canon Virginia, Inc., Davenport & Company, LLC, Revere Gas & Appliance, and the Virginia Pilot Association.

VIMS Dean and Director John Wells notes that private support is instrumental to the Art Auction's success. Says Wells, "Without these generous gifts, the event simply couldn't take place. We deeply appreciate the support of the local business community and other donors."

Proceeds from the 2008 event will support research by VIMS graduate students Kate Brodie, Dan Dutton, Erica Holloman, and James Douglass. Brodie will use the funds to help predict damage from coastal storms; Dutton to study bycatch issues in the Atlantic white marlin fishery; Holloman to assess the risk of eating mercury-tainted seafood; and Douglass to investigate the interaction between eelgrass beds, overfishing, and pollution.

This year's event features world-renowned marine artist, filmmaker, and conservationist Dr. Guy Harvey. On Friday evening Harvey will present a public art show and narrate several of his dramatic billfish films. The event resumes on Saturday evening with a silent and live auction.

VIMS is responding to popular demand in inviting Harvey back for his second appearance at a VIMS Art Show and Auction. His first appearance in 2006 drew large crowds and helped raise more than $60,000 for VIMS programs, including a marine science project with local middle schools, graduate-student research support at VIMS' Eastern Shore Laboratory, and a fisheries genetics study of the non-native marine snail Rapana venosa.

For details on Art Show and Auction events, visit www.vims.edu/events