By Skip Sheffield
BOCA RATON — PROPEL (People Reaching Out to Provide Education and Leadership) recently enjoyed its first “Fine Wine and Canines” event at Royal Palm Place.
Contestants, with PROPEL board president Andy Scott out front
Fourteen Boca Raton restaurants and eight vineyards presenting 24 varieties of wine, and dog fanciers of all descriptions united on a beautiful moonlit evening to further the cause of PROPEL, a private, non-profit 501c3 organization dedicated to serving Palm Beach County and northern Broward’s economically challenged communities through education and promoting leadership among at-risk youth.
Attendees paid $45 to enjoy unlimited food and wine and to be entertained by rock-soul group 45 Live, 12-year-old violinist Sage McBride, and world-renowned performance artist Michael Israel, who created two large-scale paintings before the eyes of his audience in less than 15 minutes.
Dogs were able to participate in a contest to determine, prettiest, best-dressed, meanest, smallest, largest and best overall dog.
An unusual feature of the contest was the fact participants were allowed and even encouraged to bribe the judges with cash- all to benefit PROPEL, of course
“It cost enough to make him win,” said PROPEL board member Harriet Lewis, who devised the “crooked” contest to benefit PROPEL. “I got all my friends to contribute. He could have won largest too, but I didn’t want to take that from the others.”
As it was, Lewis’ huge black Newfoundland won best-dressed and best overall dog.
Boca Raton Mayor Susan Whelchel joined in the fun, acting as a judge and willing bribe recipient. Other judges were City Councilwoman Constance Scott; PROPEL past president Roxanna Trinka and current president Andy Scott.
“It was a huge success,” remarked Scott. “A lot of people put a lot of effort into this event, and we thank them all. We don’t have definite figures yet, but we think we raised close to $15,000.”
For more information on PROPEL, call Tolliver Miller at 561-995-8553 or visit www.propelyourfuture.org.