Hosted by Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton and Saks Fifth Avenue/Boca Raton VIP 2019 Pre-Mayors Ball Reception Bedazzled With Fashion, Champagne, Wine, Dancers and More!
Photos by Gina Fontana
Saks Fifth Avenue, Town Center at Boca Raton rolled out the red carpet to host The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton2019 pre-event reception in a “fashionable” countdown to the fifth annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball that is presented by Marilyn and Jay Weinberg.
Marilyn Weinberg, Bobby Campbell, Michael Walstrom, Dyana Kenney
As an exciting prelude to the “main” event on Saturday, November 16 to be held at Boca West Country Club, the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton along with Ball Fashion Sponsor, Saks Fifth Avenue welcomed honorees, sponsors and committee members amidst magnificent ball gowns and mens formal wear displays. As live models donned in the latest couture eveningwear strolled through the celebration, attendees enjoyed hors d’oeuvres, wines, champagne and got the advance opportunity to learn about and purchase “Chance to Win” tickets for a variety of experiential opportunities. The program led by Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton President, Dr. Allen Konis capped off with high energy demos performed by Pam Casanave and Raphael Abel of the Dance with Me Dance Studio at Town Center. Some guests even got the opportunity to enjoy taking a few steps and turns on the marble dance floor with these professionals.
Jay & Marilyn Weinberg, Heather Shaw, Jon Kaye, Christine Lynn
According to Mayors Ball Founding Co-Chair and 2019 event producer Jon Kaye with Kaye Communications, the gala will feature a special Rotary themed-colored blue carpet and gold entrance arrival, cocktail reception followed by a grand epicurean experience set amidst City-themed décor curated by the Boca Raton Historical Society & Museum. The dance floor-filling Steve Chase Band will return by popular guest demand for the fifth consecutive year, with a program including dining, dancing, awards and the “Chance to Win” drawings. “Chance to Win” opportunities include a pair of custom-designed earrings by Cristino Fine Jewelry valued at $5,000, a Celebrity Cruise (your choice of itinerary) provided by Scott Grody Travel, and an original art bowl and $1,500 gift card from Sklar Furnishings. In addition, there are exceptional hotel and resort stays from Loews Hotels, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Waterstone Resort & Marina, Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, Ocean Properties Sagamore Resort and Marriott Delray Beach Resort. Restaurants packaged with hotel stays include Oceans234 and the soon-to-open Rex Baron Survivor’s Kitchen/VREX Lounge.
Rick & Pat Howard, Former Boca Raton Mayor Bill T. Smith, Dr. Allen Konis, Lori Ann Konis, Jon Kaye
Marilyn & Mark Swillinger, Arlene Herson, Susan Saturday
Celebrating “Boca at its best,” this Boca Raton Mayors Ball “Service Above Self” fundraiser is an opportunity to recognize individuals and organizations that through their daily community involvement and business practices promote the city of Boca Raton in a positive way and showcase Boca Raton as a great place to live, work, play and educate. Thus, the highlight of the gala will again be the annual presentation of the George Long Awards sponsored by Boca Raton Regional Hospital – named for the City’s first appointed mayor in 1924. According to Boca Raton Mayors Ball Co-chairs and Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton Members Dyana Kenney and Michael Walstrom as well as Honorary Chairs Jerry and Terry Fedele (Jerry Fedele was presented with a 2018 George Long Award), this year’s event honors the following who have each “championed the tradition of bringing indelible visionary ideas and transformation to Boca Raton.”
Peg Anderson, Margie & Alan Kaye, Nicole Ruth, Ellyn Okrent
- Lynn University- Kevin Ross (Individual Category)
- Bluegreen Vacations (For Profit Category)
- Florence Fuller Child Development Centers (Nonprofit Category)
“Community response has been escalating for this fifth annual gala to support the health and wellness needs of Boca Raton’s nonprofits,” shared Mayors Ball Co-chair and Immediate Past President Michael Walstrom. “It is inspiring to feel the excitement and pride that fills the ballroom when so many long-time community stakeholders, spanning several decades, unite and celebrate at the annual Ball. The exceptional caliber of our George Long Award recipients which always makes this gala an annual must-go-to event.”
Arlene Herson, Constance Scott, Christine Lynn, Pat Thomas, Bobby Campbell- seated
Co-chair Dyana Kenney, added that the Mayors Ball “was established by the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton to celebrate the City of Boca Raton’s visionaries past and present who have elevated the community and who exemplify Rotary International’s motto, ‘Service Above Self’”. Proceeds from the 2018 Mayors Ball benefited 27 Boca Raton-based nonprofits and Rotary International’s Polio Plus Program that helps globally to eradicate polio and other diseases.
The 2019 Boca Raton Mayors Ball sponsorships to date include:Presenting Sponsor Jay & Marilyn Weinberg joined by Boca Raton Airport Authority, Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Bobby Campbell, Penn-Florida Companies, The Residences at Mandarin Oriental, Boca Raton; 101 Via Mizner, ADT, Cristino Fine Jewelry, Excell Auto Group, FPL, Kaye Communications, Sklar Furnishings, Gale Wechsler/The Wechsler Foundation, Anchor Bank, Boca West Foundation, Konis Family Dental. James & Marta Batmasian Family Foundation, Gray Robinson Law, YMCA, Bluegreen Vacations, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers, Lynn University, Office Depot, Sun Capital Partners, Douglas Rudman The Rudman Law Group, ScriptAssist Pharmacy, El-Ad National Properties, Schmidt Family Foundation, Howard & Evelyn Tai, Constance & Tom Scott, Kari Oeltjen & Dr. Jeff Berman, Champion Home Healthcare, Marcia & Jeffrey Langley, Margie & Maurice Plough, Jr., Saks Fifth Avenue at Town Center, Loews Hotels, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Waterstone Resort & Marina, Renaissance Boca Raton Hotel, Oceans 234, Ocean Properties, and Rex Baron Survivors Kitchen VREX Lounge, Grigsby Design and Plum Productions.
The opportunity to support the gala’s “health and wellness” mission is open to the public through the purchase of “Chance-To-Win” ticket opportunities at $50 each for one of the 10 drawings for sought-after experiences valued from $800 to $5,000. Purchasers need not be present to win and 100% of the proceeds go directly to the “Service Above Self” Fund for health and wellness programs benefitting area nonprofits. To purchase “Chance to Win” tickets, visit; https://squ.re/2kca4Km
To attend the fifth annual Boca Raton Mayors Ball, visit: https://squ.re/2kg5ydR
For more information visit www.rotarydowntownbocaraton.org, or contact Deborah Freudenberg at 561-299-1429, or email mayorsball@rotarydowntownbocaraton.org.
