Ocean City’s historic Flanders Hotel is known as a landmark in town, and it is rapidly taking on an additional role: Major Community Partner.
The latest example is the property’s unprecedented support for the Mr. Mature America Pageant, to take place on March 12 at the Music Pier. The pageant is believed to be the first and only one of its kind in the United States.
The property will provide full course meals for the pageant judges and contestants in separate rooms (they cannot inter-mingle prior to the pageant) interview rooms for the preliminary competition, signage and more.
“Mark Soifer, who came up with the idea for the pageant does such a tremendous job and we want the event to be a grand slam for him and for the city,” said Director of Hotel Operations Peter Voudouris. “The interview segment counts for 20 percent of the scoring to determine the winner, so we feel that we play an important part. The dinner we provide includes white glove service.”
Some of the other sponsors and special guests include Dietz and Watson, which presents a ham to each contestant; the St. James AME Church Gospel Choir, blues musician Herb “Bubba Mac” Birch and former local TV news anchor Dick Sheeran.
In addition to the pageant, which includes a humorous and entertaining dance routine by the contestants and a talent portion, there is an art exhibit which features the work of area seniors, held in the Music Pier Solarium. Tickets to the event are $10. For more information or to enter, call 609-399-6111.
Voudouris and his wife were judges themselves at the first Mr. Mature pageant in 2014. He feels the support he and his staff provide the event “is the right thing to do. I have always felt it was important for us to be there for the city. Ocean City is a great place and we want to do our part.”
Other examples of the Flanders’ generosity included a 90th Anniversary party for the property which was open to all residents in town, hosting a fundraiser for the Historical Society and opening the property’s doors for those displaced or inconvenienced by Superstorm Sandy.
