Glee Star Jane Lynch Coming To Manatee For Rowing Fundraiser

Sue Sylvester is coming to Manatee County.

Jane Lynch, the actress who portrays Sylvester, the salty cheerleading coach in the hit FOX TV show, is set to attend a fundraiser next month for the Palmetto High School rowing team.

Lynch and her wife, Lara Embry, when they donated $15,000 to the fledgling program.

Embry, a former employee at Carter Psychology Center in Bradenton, is a friend and former rowing partner of Palmetto coach Trish Jackson.

Now Lynch will be honored at a brunch on Saturday, May 14, held at the River Wilderness Clubhouse off Fort Hamer Road in Parrish and co-sponsored by Rive Isle Golf and Nautical Estates. Tickets cost $50, with all proceeds going toward the purchase of boats, oars and rowing machines for the team.

Embry and Lynch had challenged the rowing club to raise an additional $5,000, which would be matched with another $5,000 by the pair. To meet that challenge, the team is also hosting a Chopper Dropper Fundraiser the same day as the brunch. The $50 brunch ticket will also include one of 2,000 numbered golf balls to be dropped from a helicopter on the golf course. A grand prize of $25,000 will be awarded to the ticketholder whose ball lands closest to the designated pin. Second- and third-place prizes of $5,000 and $1,000, respectively, will also be presented.

There will also be a silent auction featuring signed memorabilia from Glee cast members at the brunch, which starts at 9 a.m. The ball drop will occur at 10 a.m.

For tickets and information, e-mail palmettocrew@gmail.com or contact Michael Longobardi at 941-776-1729 or Mike@RiveIsle.com.