Celebrating 50 years in Palm Beach County, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County will host The 50^th Anniversary Gala- The Winter Ball on February 4, 2022, at The Breakers Palm Beach. The event chair is Gretchen Leach joined by Co-Chairs Tom C. Quick, Jean and Tom Rutherfoord and, Helen and Charles Schwab. A decadent Moroccan theme will transform the elegant Breakers Palm Beach Mediterranean and Venetian Ballrooms into an exotic and exciting atmosphere for guests to enjoy and celebrate the organization’s golden anniversary of providing services to the most deserving children in Palm Beach County.

“I am extremely honored to chair Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s Gala – The Winter Ball. This is an important year as it is the 50th Anniversary of the organization. This is an awesome job which I take on seriously, and with responsibility, in that, I know how much these children need and benefit from all of what the Clubs do for them and their entire families,” said Chairman Gretchen Leach.

The annual black-tie event is one of the most prominent and well-attended galas of the Palm Beach social season, and this year, guests will enjoy the Moroccan themed evening beginning in the Mediterranean Ballroom with a cocktail hour, following in the Venetian Ballroom will be dinner, dancing and special themed entertainment followed by a live auction.  The guests will dance the night away with the sounds of a big band dance orchestra led by Bob Hardwick.

“We are thrilled that we can meet face-to-face once again for our 50^th anniversary to support the more than 10,000 children that Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County helps annually,” said President & CEO Jaene Miranda. “Without the support of the community, our 17 Clubs will not be able to provide the services needed to ensure that all children reach their full potential.”

Due in part to many guests and Club supporters being excited to attend The Winter Ball in person this season, the event is on track to be a record-breaking event during this special anniversary year for the organization. Funds raised during The Winter Ball will help fund Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s essential Hunger Relief Programs. The Clubs provide daily a healthy snack and hot, nutritious meal for all Club members. This is critical as the recovery from the pandemic continues in neighborhoods that the 17 Clubs strategically serve. Currently, nearly 95% of Club members live at or below the federal poverty line and depend on the free meals. In 2021, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County will have distributed more than 675,000 meals.

Honorary Chairmen of The 50^th Anniversary Gala– The Winter Ball include Julie and Mike Connors, Lydia and Robert Forbes, Mary and Mark Freitas, Hillie Mahoney, Hon. Danielle Moore, Amanda and Charles Schumacher, Hon. Leslie S. Smith, Eddy and John Taylor, and Betsy and Wally Turner.

To help celebrate the 50^th anniversary of The Winter Ball and the organization, more than 50 vice chairmen have been named to help make the event a success. Vice chairmen include Mary Randolph Ballinger, Olympia and Brooks Bishop, James Borynack and Adolfo Zaralegui, Paula and Robert Butler, Kim and Payson Coleman, Wendy and Howard Cox, Brittain and John Damgard, Maureen Donnell, David Donten, Debbie and Bob Dunkin, Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, Hon. David T. Fischer and Jennifer Fischer, Lois and Jeff Fiser, Kay Gilman, Audrey and Martin Gruss, Jennifer and Chris Harris, Mai Hallingby Harrison, Allie Hanley, Ann and Charles Johnson, Elizabeth L. Johnson, Jorie Butler Kent, Carol and Tom Kirchhoff, Talbot Maxey, Grace and Chris Meigher, Priscilla and Don Miller, Anne Neville, Jane and Carl Panattoni, Kit Pannill, Susan and Chris Pappas, Amy and John Phelan, Sallie B. Phillips, Pauline Pitt and Gerry Seay, Vera Serrano, Betsy and Paul Shiverick, Christine and Bob Stiller, Felicia Taylor and Peter Gottsegen, Simone and Kerry Vickar, and Lynne McGowan Wheat and Thomas Peterffy.

For more information and to learn how you can support Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, please contact Tim Tracy, VP of development & corporate relations at ttracy@bgcpbc.org or 561-324-8600.