Close to 300 revelers celebrated the new year, family, and Russian culture at the annual Russian Heritage Winter Ball on Jan. 11 at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. A rite of January since its inception more than two decades ago, the Winter Ball is sponsored by billionaire businessman John Catsimatidis, owner of Red Apple Group, and his wife, Margo, whose late mother, Tatiana Vondersaar, helped found Russian Heritage Inc. Funds from the Winter Ball support the Russian Heritage Scholarship Fund, which pays for Russian students coming to America and American students traveling to Russia. Guests at the gala included U.S. Reps. Gus Bilirakis and Charlie Crist. Photos by Jillian Nelson.