Robert’s Community Report: 3/18
The third annual “Eat, Drink, and Be Giving Gala” was held on Friday, March 9th at the Marriott Hotel in Delray Beach. The inspirational evening featured an elegant dinner and a moving keynote address by Ashley Judd.
Saturday morning was the 5th Annual Mayor/Council Member Bicycle Ride. The tour began at Mizner Park Amphitheater. Participants chose from two routes. Afterwards, the Mayor and City Council kicked off the Health & Wellness Experience event.
That afternoon the Boca Chamber hosted a fun day of food and games for the whole family on the grounds at the YMCA. Chamber Members and Non-Members were invited to come celebrate this gorgeous community in which we live, work and play! There was a ton of food – including hot dogs, hamburgers, veggies, chips and much more. Fun games for family members of all ages, bounce houses, slides, DJ and the South Florida Sun!
On Saturday evening The 2018 PBC Mayor’s Ball was an unparalleled success with over 750 attendees attending the black tie event at the Palm Beach County Convention Center with the net proceeds benefiting homeless service in Palm Beach County. This year’s gala theme was chosen to encourage each person to become an integral part of making a difference in the lives of our homeless neighbors. This event attracted attendees from various segments of our community including business, politics, philanthropy and faith. Since its inception, the Mayor’s Ball has netted more than $1 million for homeless services in our community allowing the Homeless Coalition’s Creating Housing Opportunities program to positively impact nearly 1,000 men, women and children by moving them into permanent housing. On any given night hundreds of individuals and families are homeless or on the verge of becoming homeless in Palm Beach County. Since 1986, the Homeless Coalition has been the voice of those who are homeless in our community. As a non-profit, the Coalition actively supports the Ten-Year Plan to End Homelessness in Palm Beach County.
Also on Saturday the 2018 Best Foot Forward “A Jewel of a Bash,” was held at the Polo Club. It was a chance for Donna Biase and Debbie Ellman to show off the kids they have nurtured and supported. With the help of their supporters, BFF has been able to create opportunities and watch dreams come true for children who have been abused, neglected or abandoned and are living in foster care. The proceeds from the evening were earmarked for continuing their mission.
And … Kidsafe Foundation, a non-profit organization established to help prevent child sexual abuse honored Gold Medal gymnast Aly Raisman as the National Child Advocate of the Year at its ninth annual gala held at Boca West Country Club. Raisman is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished gymnasts in American history. A native of Needham, Massachusetts, she is a two-time team captain and six-time Medalist. In her New York Times best-selling memoir, Fierce, she shares the highs and lows of her journey, including her survival of sexual abuse.
The “Shine the Light” Gala also honored local restaurateur Rocco Mangel of Rocco’s Tacos as the Child Advocate of the Year for 2018. Serving as a voice for MS, Rocco has raised $140,000 for the National MS Society. He has also contributed time and money to the KidSafe Foundation, ALS Association, Leukemia/Lymphona Society, Toys for Tots, Tri-County Humane Society, March of Dimes, Palm Beach Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and other organizations. All funds raised at the “Shine the Light” Gala will go towards KidSafe’s extensive programs that bring direct services to thousands of children and adults. Gala Co-Chairs were Sung Knowles and Julissa Caballero and featured singer Kendra Erika who recently hit the Billboard Dance Club Top 10.
Federation of South Palm Beach County held its annual “Super Sunday.” This year the event raised over $500,000.
On Sunday evening Boca Raton Synagogue held its 28th Annual Journal Dinner at Boca Raton’s Congregation B’nai Israel. The evenings honorees were Hinda & Arnold Bramnick, Drs. Seema & Joey Loscove and, receiving the first Defender of Israel Award, Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Congressman Ted Deutch (D-FL-21) introduced Congresswomen Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-27) who will be retiring at the end of the current session of Congress after 30 years.
On Monday, March 12th celebrated author of Forever Young and The Perricone Diet, Dr Nicolas Perricone, served as Keynote Speaker during the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation’s 28th Annual Book of Hope Luncheon. This year’s Luncheon was held at the Boca Raton Resort and honored noted gastroenterologist Dr. Marie Abreu. Attendees to the Book of Hope Luncheon enjoyed a delicious lunch while listening to the inspiring keynote speech, and also heard about recent achievements made in the ongoing efforts of the Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation to find a cure for those with digestive diseases. The Book of Hope Luncheon is one of the Florida chapter’s signature events with the goal of raising funds and awareness to support the chapter’s mission.
The municipal elections were held and Council Member Jeremy Rodgers will be returning for a second three-year term. Rodgers will be joined by political newcomer, Monica Mayotte.
New Directions for Women Luncheon benefiting National Jewish Health will be held on March 16th. National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. The luncheon will raise funds to support research and treatment, including heart and lung diseases that affect women. Guest speaker, Jill Zarin first made a name for herself as an original cast member of the Bravo reality TV hit, “The Real Housewives of New York City,” which is now available on Netflix. Leveraging her business, marketing and retail savvy, she built several personal brands including the Jill Zarin Jewelry Collection and Skweez Couture shapewear. She wrote her first book, “Secrets of a Jewish Mother,” with her mother, Gloria Kamen, and her sister, Lisa Wexler, radio host of “The Lisa Wexler Show.” Zarin is a sought-after speaker and talk show guest, bringing motivation, common sense, humor and chutzpah to topics ranging from marriage and caregiving, to politics and pop culture. Zarin has a seasonal home in Boca Raton. Join hundreds of your fellow community members at a luncheon to support women’s heart and lung health. Proceeds benefit National Jewish Health, where patients receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care from a team of medical professionals advancing the research and treatment of respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders.http://www.flnewdirections.com/
Also Coming up: Grab your shopping bags and head on over to the Boca Raton Green Market held every Saturday, 8AM to 1PM, through May 13, 2018. Now in its 21st year of operation, the Market takes place at the south end of Royal Palm Place in the Monument Piazza parking area located at the intersection of S Federal Hwy and SE Mizner Blvd. Plenty of parking is available adjacent to the Market vendor site. Boca’s Green Market has continually been dedicated to local food production and consumption — produce that travels from farm direct to the dining table — and through the process supporting the Florida agricultural industry and the economy of our south Florida area. Each Saturday, fresh locally-grown fruits and vegetables as they become available in their individual growing seasons—along with fresh-read-to-cook chickens, eggs, fresh herbs, soaps & lotions, juices, potted orchids, ocean shells, fresh cut flowers, assorted variety of plants, fresh baked goods, prepared foods, oils & vinegars, gourmet foods, hydroponic and organic foods, fresh fish and seafood, fresh pasta, doggie treats —are available for purchase. Several of the vendors have participated since the Market began in 1996, with a few new vendors joining each year. Community service organizations participate from time to time to share information or to promote a special project. The Boca Raton GreenMarket is supported by The Boca Raton Tribune, Florida Health & Chiropractic Medicine, Aurora Nurses Home Health Care, Inc., Investments Limited, Inc., Palm Beach County, Happy Day Creations, Premier Productions LLC, LivingFLA.com, and “FRESH from FLORIDA,” a promotional campaign of Florida’s Department of Agriculture and Consumer Affairs.
All weekend long the Stage Door Theatre presents Imagine: A Beatles Retrospective in the Willow Theatre! The Fab Four have left a permanent mark in history with their vast songbook of now timeless classics. “Imagine” celebrates the music of The Beatles, re-imagined for a new audience. A live three piece band and a cast of incredible vocalists and dancers take you on a journey through the works of the songs you remember from the band that changed the face of music. Tickets are $30 per person; $25 group rate (8 or more tickets purchased in one transaction).
www.willowtheatre.org/imagine-a-beatles-retrospective
On Sunday morning at 10AM join the Boca Raton Historical Society and Museum for Brunch. All proceeds from Boca Bacchanal’s Bubbles & Brunch will benefit the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum!
Enjoy the sounds of the Manhattan Jazz band as you browse the Robb & Stucky showroom display of the latest trends in home design, sip champagne, and enjoy an array of small bites that will be the perfect pairing for wine tasting stations throughout the event.
At 11AM join us upstairs for an exciting forum discussion led by Mark Stuart, Robb & Stucky’s Creative Director, on New Trends and Inspirations from Highpoint Market. We will also have our Autocad expert working with an interior designer to give a preview of the Robb & Stucky design process. Stick around for your chance to WIN (2) free tickets to this year’s Bacchanalia Grand Tasting event on April 7, 2018. Plus, meet the staff from the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum and learn how you can attend one of the exclusive Vitner Dinners at the Bacchanalia.
Now for something completely different on Sunday evening at 7PM. This could be your introduction to stand up comedy! In this workshop students of all experience levels will learn stand up comedy writing including joke structure and performance techniques with the goal of becoming confident and comfortable on stage. By the end of this class you’ll have a 2-minute comedy set and a foundation from which to build.
In this class you’ll learn the following:
– Basic Joke Structure
– Joke Writing Techniques
– Stage Presence
– Basic Performance Techniques
– Do’s and Dont’s
Homework to bring: Write a paragraph about yourself. Your name. Where you’re from. Tell us about your family and how you fit in. Your job. Your current or past relationship.
At the last of the three-part 2018 ADL Lecture Series on Monday March 19th at 7:30PM at Boca West County Club, the ADL will welcome Professor Deborah Lipstadt, Dorot Professor of Modern Jewish History and Holocaust Studies at Emory University for “Denial – History on Trial: My Day In Court With David Irving.” They will also be awarding the ADL Courage to Care Award posthumously to Gilbert and Eleanor Kraus, z”l, a Jewish-American couple from Philadelphia, who rescued 50 Jewish children from Austria in 1939.
