FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 9, 2017
Media Contact: Maria Curreri
561-683-3287 / mcurreri@bgcpbc.org
Event Contact: Mary Coleman
561-683-3287 / mcoleman@bgcpbc.org
The Winter Ball Dazzles with $1.3 Million Dollar Event
Proceeds Benefit Club Children
Palm Beach, Fla. – The Venetian Ballroom of the Breakers Palm Beach was transformed into a magical winter wonderland in celebration of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 36th Annual Gala, The Winter Ball which took place on Friday, February 3rd. Once again, the prestigious event hit record highs by raising over one point three million dollars to benefit the Club’s children. Leading the charge was this year’s chairman, Mrs. Rudolph W. Giuliani along with Honorary Chairmen Julie and Mike Connors, Hon. Danielle H. Moore, Pauline Pitt, and Thomas C. Quick.
The evening kicked-off with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres under the stars in the Mediterranean Courtyard where guests were greeted warmly by Club members from the Max M. Fisher Boys & Girls Club. Bacardi surprised the guests with a signature drink, a Rum Hot Toddy designed especially for the Fire & Ice themed event. Afterwards, members of the Boys & Girls Clubs’ Drumline lead guests into to the Venetian Ballroom for dinner. Guests danced the night away to the high energy performance of the Powerhouse Band – a band that has performed in major cities around the globe to the delight of presidents, high-profile celebrities and superstar athletes.
The evening proved to be one filled with continued excitement to the delight of guests with a surprise performance by the club children. Club member Reality Allen dazzled the crowd with her rendition of Aretha Franklin’s Say a Little Prayer. Keiyon Ivory brought the house down when he jumped off the stage and sang You are the Sunshine of My Life directly to Mrs. Giuliani while inviting her to dance with him. The energy continued with the advanced level dancers from the Boys & Girls Club Ballroom Dancing team performing to the Bee Gee’s You Should Be Dancing! The performance built to a crescendo and the crowd went wild when all of the Club kids descended on the audience inviting them to the dance floor. The entire ballroom was on its feet!
Following dinner, Wellington Club members and twin sisters, Bibiana and Tatiana Montoya tugged at the heartstrings of over 350 guests, with their heartwarming speech. They shared with guests their experience at the Club and expressed gratitude to the Club staff and supporters. “We love that you picked to support the Boys & Girls Clubs because without your help my family wouldn’t have anywhere for my brother, sister, and I to go,” said Tatiana. “Plus what about the other thousands of kids, where would they go?” followed Bibi in their shared speech as they continued to narrate to guests about all the various activities they get to participate in as part of the Club’s programming.
Following their speech, Honorary Chairman Tom Quick, kicked off the Call to the Heart portion of the evening raising an additional $160,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs.
During the live auction, Sheriff Ric Bradshaw drove the energized crowd to a bidding frenzy with the Sheriff for the Day auction package which sold to five different individuals with a winning bid of $10,000 each, fetching the highest bid for the Sheriff for the Day package in the event’s history and raising an additional $50,000 for the evening. Other live auction items included a 3-night, 4-day stay in four private cabanas at the Four Seasons Resort Las Cabos at Costa Palmas in Mexico, Sapphire and Diamond 18K white gold earrings, a $5,000 Oscar de la Renta gift certificate, a New York Theatre Experience including tickets to the one of the most coveted shows in Broadway History – Hamilton, an American Musical, a private cruise aboard the M/Y Crili, and a 2-Day Racing School package with the Lucas Oil School of Racing.
The event’s Diamond Benefactors were The Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani & Judith Giuliani, and Mr. and Mrs. John A. Paulson were Emerald Benefactors.
Platinum Benefactors included Mr. and Mrs. Mike Connors, Mr. and Mrs. Alfonso Fanjul, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Forbes, Ambassador and Mrs. Howard Leach, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Luter III, The Mary Alice Fortin Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. John Moran, William H. Pitt Foundation, Mr. Thomas C. Quick, and Mr. and Mrs. Julio Serrano
Gold Benefactors included Mr. Brooks Bishop, Mrs. David Mahoney, Ms. Lia D. Reed, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Rutherfoord, Mr. and Mrs. Marc Stefanski, Third Palm Capital, and Mr. and Mrs. Gary Wendt. Silver Benefactors – The Donald A. Burns Foundation, Inc., Mr. and Mrs. Robert Dunkin, Mr. and Mrs. Llywd Ecclestone, Mr. and Mrs. J. Pepe Fanjul, Mr. John Firestone, Mr. and Mrs. David Fischer, Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey Frank, Mr. and Mrs. Mark Freitas, Mr. and Mrs. Charles B. Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessler, Mr. Ron Kochman, The Leonard and Judy Lauder Fund, Mr. and Mrs. Howard Lester, Mr. and Mrs. James Meany, Mrs. Susan Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Murphy, Mrs. Marzia Percoda, The International Society of Palm Beach, The Taylor Family Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Wally Turner, and Mr. Keith Williams and Ms. Nicole Dina.
Bronze Benefactors included Mr. and Mrs. Gary Burkhead, Mr. and Mrs. Michael Crimi, Ms. Jackie Drake, Mr. and Mrs. Edward C. Dweck, Mr. and Mrs. Pepe Fanjul, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Jonathan D. Farkas, Raymond & Maria Floyd Family Foundation, Mr. Kim Fonseca, Mr. and Mrs. C. Gerald Goldsmith, Mr. and Mrs. George Gould, Mr. and Mrs. Ian Graham, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Grauer, Hartless Foundation, Robert W. Johnson IV Charitable Trust, Mr. and Mrs. George S. Kaufman, Mr. Paul Leone, Ms. Gigi Mahon, Mr. and Mrs. Chris Mara, Mr. and Mrs. James L. Nederlander, Mr. Tim Ratty, Mr. Harry Rhoads, Jr., Wendi and Joseph B. Rose Foundation, Mr. and Mrs. Wilbur Ross, Jr., Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Schwarzman, Mr. and Mrs. Donald Scott, Jr., Ms. Susan O. Taylor, and Mr. and Mrs. Leo Vecellio.
Proceeds from The Winter Ball will support the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, which offers 13 sites located in the County. The Clubs provide services during non-school hours, as well as summer camp opportunities, to more than 8,000 boys and girls from ages 6 to 18. Clubs emphasize educational, vocational, social, recreational, health, leadership, and character building skills in a positive and safe atmosphere. Through quality programs, the Club experience provides children with the guidance they need to make a healthy transition from childhood to young adulthood. For more information on the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, please call 561-683-3287 or visit www.bgcpbc.org.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County
Founded in 1971, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County is a not-for profit youth development organization dedicated to promoting the educational, vocational, health leadership and character of boys and girls in a safe, nurturing environment. The Clubs provide more than a safe, fun and constructive alternative to being home alone – they offer a variety of award-winning developmental programs to help youth build skills, self-esteem and values during critical periods of growth. The thirteen Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Palm Beach County serve more than 8,000 children ages 6-18. For more information, please visit www.bgcpbc.org or call 561-683-3287.
