Boca Raton Social Scene

by Pamela Weinroth

Where were you this past week?

Debbie Weisman, Robert Weinroth, Elizabeth Levine

Last week was extremely busy. Beginning with last Sunday, it was the 33rd Annual JARC Gala (or, in keeping with the Star Wars theme of the weekend coincidentally just as the Festival of the Arts Boca was showcasing the film from over 40 years ago), Episode 33.

Gala chairs, Elizabeth Levine and Debbie Weisman created a great night with a tribute to Debra Hallow, as she prepares to take her leave and retire after serving as captain of the ship for over 25 years!

Originally from Massachusetts, Hallow, CEO of the JARC Florida began when JARC had three residential homes. Today JARC has a network of 10 residential homes located in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, a supported living apartment program, a community day training program as well as community case management, supported employment and social and recreational programs supporting adults with disabilities.

Hallow created a vision, together with the dedicated board of JARC to insure men and women with disabilities would be assured a life of independence, dignity and respect.

Elaine Russel, Pamela Weinroth, Arlene Herson, Marta Batmasian, Francesca Daniels ,Lora Skeets Garfunkel Friedkin

Habitat for Humanity of South Palm Beach County held its kick off for the very successful “Women Build” on Tuesday evening.

“Women Build” is a hands-on fundraising event in which individual empowered women builders each raise or contribute $1,000 each toward much needed funds to build a home for a hard-working, low-income family in our community who is in need of simple, decent, affordable housing.
The builders may invite their friends and colleagues to also become Women Builders (each with their own $1,000 fundraising or giving commitment) to join up as a named Team, but everyone is still responsible for her own minimum commitment of $1,000. Women Builders can hold receptions to raise funds, do social media campaigns, etc. Each Women Builder participates in one half day of building and earn their “Pink Hard Hats.” 2019 Women Build Co-Chairs are Beverly Raphael Altman and Robyn Raphael-Dynan.

Connie Siskowski,Rosie Martin,Joe Martin,Arlene Herson

With the help of Chairwoman Rosie Martin, of Allegiance Home Health, the YMCA of South Palm Beach County brought the community together with their largest fundraiser of the year – the 17th Annual Inspiration Breakfast on Wednesday at Office Depot Headquarters. We experienced a morning of encouragement and motivation as the YMCA raised funds for their Financial Assistance Program and Drowning Prevention Initiatives. This year’s event featured five-time Olympic swimmer and 12-time medalist, Dara Torres as the keynote speaker. Dara Torres is considered one of the greatest female competitive swimmers of all time. She entered her first international swimming competition at age 14 and competed in the Olympic Games five times winning a total of twelve medals. Placing second (by 1/100 of a second) at her final Olympic meet, she earned the Silver medal at the age of 41. She now travels the country as a motivational speaker.

Elyssa Kupferberg, Jan Savarick, Author, Martha Hall Kelly, Shirley Stern, Susan Weidenbaum Goldstein

On Thursday, New Directions for Women’s Luncheon featured Martha Hall Kelly, The New York Times Best selling author of “Lilac Girls.” The book is based on the true story of 72 Polish women who were imprisoned and experimented on at Ravensbruck Concentration Camp in Germany. Through the efforts of American socialite and philanthropist, Caroline Ferriday, many survivors came to America for medical treatment and those who suffered with respiratory issues were cared for at National Jewish Health.

National Jewish Health is committed to preventing childhood allergies, curing severe asthma, stopping the progression of COPD, and finding cures and better treatments for other respiratory, cardiac, immune and related conditions, such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from Florida and around the world to receive cutting edge, comprehensive, coordinated care.

Luncheon Co-Chairs were Susan Goldstein and Shirley Stern.

Friday evening 211 HelpLine brought New Orleans’s Mardi Gras to the EAU Palm Beach for their 5th Annual Spring Gala. Party-goers were immersed into an experience of live jazz music, interactive entertainment and festivities, authentic cuisine and of course, lots and lots of beads! 211 Palm Beach/Treasure Coast’s mission is to connect people to services 24hours a day by understanding their individual, emotional, financial and community needs and to support the health and human service system as a whole.

Gala Chairs were Jessica and Trent Swift and Jr Chairs were Arsine Kaloustian and Taniel Koushakjian.

Next week:

On March 16th the Boca Chamber is hosting a fun day of food and games for the whole family at the YMCA of South Palm Beach County
6631 Palmetto Circle South. Chamber Members and Non-Members are invited to come celebrate this gorgeous community in which we live, work and play!

There will be tons 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!

Admission to the Community Cookout is FREE! You can purchase a meal ticket for $5 which includes a burger or hotdog, cold salad, chips and a beverage. (Please register your family online at www.bocaratonchamber.com/events ) Children under 10 years old will receive one complimentary meal ticket.

Sunday, March 17, 2019, at 3:00pm, Elizabeth H. Dudley presents Stars of American Ballet in collaboration with Boca Ballet Theatre. Back by popular demand New York City Ballet principal dancer and Stars of American Ballet founder Daniel Ulbricht brings his troupe to join forces with Boca Ballet Theatre to present a dynamic concert showcasing iconic works of yesterday and today, highlighting a spectrum of different styles of music and dance. Stars of American Ballet will present In the Night, George Balanchine’s Divertissement, from Midsummer’s Night Dream, Change of Heart and Ask la Cour and Tres Hombres. Boca Ballet Theatre will be performing Boca Baroque.

Additional Sponsors include: Chastain Charitable Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis J. Parker III, Marleen Forkas, Susan Bloom and Jo Ann Engelhardt and Dr. George Elder.

Performance will take place at Olympic Heights Performing Arts Theater. Ticket Prices are $50 and $40. For information call (561) 995-0709 www.bocaballet.org.

And now for something completely different:

The Big Bounce began its nationwide tour in November 2018, with plans to visit 59 cities in 29 states across the country. That includes our fair city from March 22 to 24.

While the bounce house experience is for people of all ages, what we’re most looking forward to is the adult sessions. No longer will we be relegated to the sidelines of bounce houses at children’s birthday parties, wishing we could kick off our shoes and push those toddlers to the side.

Now, we get to bounce our butts off at three different experiences. First there’s The World’s Biggest Bounce House, with ball pits, climbing towers, confetti blasts, and a live DJ spinning tunes. Then there’s The Giant, a 900-foot inflatable obstacle course—it’s like “American Ninja Warrior,” except the whole working out part. Then finally, Air Space, a space-themed bounce house with planets, spaceships, aliens, and more.

Tickets for adult sessions (for guests 16 and older) are $28, which gives you three hours of free range of all three bounce house experiences. For those with families, there’s toddler, junior, and bigger kid sessions with prices ranging from $16 to $24, allowing for a parent or caretaker to enter with the child.

Start Planning:

Friends of the Israel Defense Forces (FIDF) supporters from the South Palm Beach/Broward area, along with Maskit Fashion House’s head designer Sharon Tal of Israel and Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Brig. Gen. (Res.) Gila Klifi Amir, will gather April 3 in Boca Raton for a fashion event, “Strength By Design,” to support well-being and educational programs for the soldiers of the IDF.

“Strength By Design,” scheduled for noon at the Addison and sponsored by FIDF’s Women’s Campaign, will also feature Israel’s Consul General to Florida and Puerto Rico, Lior Haiat. Chairing the fashion event is Robin Rosenbaum, and co-chairing are Nancy Iscowitz and Bonnie Silverman.

The event will bring together FIDF friends and supporters, as well as Klifi Amir, who helped break the glass ceiling for women serving in the Israeli military and will launch FIDF’s local Women’s Campaign. The event will feature clothing by Tal, head designer of Maskit, the luxury Israeli fashion house, as guests learn about Israeli fashion through a multi-media presentation and shop for designer clothing. Tal, an internationally known designer, was recently nominated for Designer of the Year in the 2018 Fashion Awards by Israel’s “At” Magazine.

Klifi-Amir, a trailblazer and pioneer for women in the military, will discuss her 30-year career with the IDF and her instrumental role in establishing a framework for the continued equality and involvement of women in the IDF. In her last position, Gila served as the Women’s Affairs Advisor to the Chief of Staff. “This event showcases the strength of women in fashion as well as in the military. The thread that ties these women together is the out-of-the-box thinking they learned as IDF soldiers and translated their skills into two completely different and highly successful careers. This event will be a one-of-a-kind, unique experience.”

To register for “Strength By Design,” visit https://www.fidf.org/events/fidf-palm-beachbroward-fashion-event.

Boca Helping Hands will host the 13th Annual Monopoly Event & Casino Night on Saturday, April 13 at 6 p.m. at The Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club, 2425 West Maya Palm Drive in Boca Raton. Co-chairs for the event are LouAnn Such and Dale Workman.

Guests will vie for the Boca Helping Hands title of MONOPOLY® Game Champion, and the evening will include hors d’oeuvres and dinner, a silent and live auction by auctioneer Neil Safer, casino gaming and a DJ. Two-time National MONOPOLY Champion Gary Peters will serve as the MONOPOLY tournament mediator.

“This event is both fun and something different,” said Gary Peters, Boca Helping Hands Board President. “Most everyone loved Monopoly as a kid, so this is their chance to come out and enjoy the game again.”

The Event Sponsor is Michelle & Michael Hagerty. The Dinner Sponsor is Tandy and Joe Robinson. The Auction Sponsor is JM Family Enterprises, Inc. Park Place Sponsor is Oasis Championship, A Paychex® Company.

Tickets start at $150. For more information, contact Karen Swedenborg at 561-417-0913, ext. 202 or visit bocahelpinghands.org/monopoly.

For more events, visit my website at www.bocacal.com.