Symphony Society's Designer Showcase wins national award

The Southwest Florida Symphony Society has been recognized for its outstanding volunteer efforts. The society has been awarded the Volunteer Council of the League of American Orchestras Gold Book Online Award of Excellence for the 2008 Designer Showcase: "The Art of Design" project. The Symphony Society is one of nine volunteer-initiated projects to receive an award this year.

The annual Gold Book Online competition recognizes outstanding projects created and executed by volunteer associations throughout the United States and Canada who have demonstrated outstanding support for their symphony orchestras.

In the summer of 2007, the society partnered with the International Design Center as a sponsor of the 2008 Designer Showcase. The IDC built a 12-room "virtual house" on the third floor of the IDC building. The Showcase was open to the public for viewing and the partnership with the IDC offered the perfect space and location for the event. The 2008 Designer Showcase raised $37,000 for the Southwest Florida Symphony.