Published On: Tue, Jun 18th, 2019

Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton Presents Fifth Annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball Saturday, November 16

Event Proceeds to Serve Health and Wellness Needs of Boca Raton Nonprofits
Fulfilled Through Club’s Grant Program

 

 

Photos by Gina Fontana

From left front row; Kim Champion, Arlene Herson, Michael Walstrom, Terry Fedele, Jerry Fedele, Dyana Kenney, Rick Howard, Constance Scott, Deborah Freudenberg From left second row; Dr. Allen Konis, Linda Petrakis, Jon Kaye, Kari Oeltjen, Ingrid Fulmer, Janice Williams, Marilyn Wilson From left third row; Alan Kaye, Mark Swillinger, Jonathan Whitney, Jon Carter Committee members not pictured: Anne Brown, Shaheer Hosh, Marsha Mauro, Elaine Morris, Lynda Palmer, Robin Trompeter, Marilyn Weinberg

Bringing Boca Raton its own Mayors Ball, presented in iconic honored tradition of the annual themed galas in the cities of Palm Beach and Miami, the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton (RCDBR) once again will roll out the red carpet as it presents the fifth annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball, Saturday, November 16 at 6 p.m. Held this year at Boca West Country Club, the black-tie dinner/dance gala will feature a lavish reception and dinner, set amidst City-themed décor and the dancefloor-filling live music of the Steve Chase Band.

 

Annually recognizing the City’s visionaries past and present, this year’s  RCDBR George Long Awards — named for the City’s first mayor — will be presented to Lynn University President Kevin Ross (individual), Florence Fuller Child Development Centers (nonprofit) and BlueGreen Vacations (for-profit) for championing the tradition of bringing indelible visionary ideas and transformation to Boca Raton.

 

Funds raised through the annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball benefit Boca Raton-based nonprofits with needs for health and wellness services and programs through a formal grant process. Proceeds from the 2018 Mayors Ball fulfilled grant requests submitted by 27 area nonprofits, as well as contributed to Rotary International’s foundation that supports the eradication of polio. Additionally, through a $200,000 pledge by Barbara and Bobby Campbell announced at last year’s Mayors Ball, the Club established the Bobby Campbell Health & Wellness Fund. This fund will provide for annual global grants, matched substantially by the Rotary International Foundation.

 

“Each year the Boca Raton Mayors Ball is a tribute to those who have made this community the enviable place in which to live, work, play, learn and heal, and the generosity of sponsors and attendees continues to make a difference in the lives of so many,” said RCDBR President and 2019 Boca Raton Co-Chair Michael F. Walstrom. “We expect the dance floor to be filled, reconnections made, and relationships renewed and strengthened as together we celebrate ‘all that is Boca’.”

 

Walstrom and his Mayors Ball Co-chair Dyana Kenney are looking forward to setting the stage for a continued spotlight on Boca Raton’s stakeholders and their achievements and contributions. The 2018 George Long Award honoree in the individual category, Jerry Fedele, and his wife Terry Fedele serve as honorary chairs. Honorary advisors include Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer, former city mayors Susan Whelchel, Bill T. Smith and Steven Abrams, Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers and Council Members Monica Mayotte, Andrea Levine O’Rourke and Andy Thomson. The event is produced by Kaye Communications PR & Marketing (KCOM-PR).

5 years of Co-Chairs From left: Michael Walstrom, Dyana Kenney, Kari Oeltjen, Jon Kaye, Constance Scott, Kim Champion, Arlene Herson, Rick Howard

“Tapping the Boca Raton Historical Society as a valued resource and its museum curator Sue Gillis to assist in forwarding a meaningful theme, we envision the Mayors Ball as an opportunity for attendees to celebrate and enhance their appreciation of the City’s history and its boldness,” added Kenney. “To date, the response and commitment from Boca-based business, civic, and community leaders for an annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball and its mission continue to grow.”

 

This year’s Mayors Ball host committee of city and community advocates and stakeholders includes: 2018 Co-chairs Rick Howard and Arlene Herson, 2017 Ball Co-chairs Kim Champion and Constance Scott, Inaugural Co-chairs Emeritus Jon A. Kaye and Kari Oeltjen along with Anne Brown, Jon Carter, Deborah Freudenberg, Ingrid Fulmer, Shaheer Hosh, Alan Kaye, Dr. Allen Konis, Marsha Mauro, Elaine Morris, Lynda Palmer, Linda Petrakis, Mark Swillinger, Robin Trompeter, Janice Williams, Marilyn Weinberg, Marilyn Wilson and Jonathan Whitney.

 

Founded in July 2012, the RCDBR received the Rotary District 6930 Governor’s Citation this year (the District’s highest honor) and has been recognized as the District 6930 ‘Rotary Club of the Year’ three times for demonstrating the Club’s exemplary dedication to positively impacting the Boca Raton community through Rotary International’s mission of “Service Above Self. The award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit’s purpose is to make a difference in its community by enhancing the lives of many in an environment that embraces and promotes integrity, fellowship, and trust. The RCDBR is one of 34,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries connecting 1.2 million Rotarians around the globe.

 

While the Mayors Ball funds the RCDBR’s grant program, the Club also hosts the annual Honor Your Doctor Luncheon that was founded by Helen M. Babione. For more than 20 years, this event has recognized physician leadership and excellence while raising scholarship monies for students at Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, students at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, healthcare students at Lynn University and Palm Beach State College.

 

For sponsorship and underwriting opportunities as well as ticket reservations, visit www.rotarydowntownbocaraton.org or contact Deborah Freudenberg at 561-299-1429, email mayorsball@rotarydowntownbocaraton.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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