FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2016
Media Contact: Maria Curreri
561-683-3287 / mcurreri@bgcpbc.org
Event Contact: Mary Coleman
561-683-3287 / mcolema@bgcpbc.org
The Winter Ball Sparkles with $1.2 Million Dollar Event
Proceeds Benefit Club Children
Palm Beach, Fla. – the Venetian Ballroom of the Breakers Palm Beach was transformed into a winter wonderland in celebration of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 35th Annual Gala, The Winter Ball which took place on Friday, February 5th. Once again, the prestigious event hit record highs by raising over one point two million dollars to benefit the Club’s children. Leading the charge were this year’s chairmen, Julie and Mike Connors with Honorary Chairmen Thomas Quick and Danielle H. Moore.
The evening kicked-off with cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the elegant Circle Room where guests were greeted warmly by Club members from the Neil S. Hirsch Family Boys & Girls Club. Dinner followed in the Venetian Ballroom where guests danced the night away to the high energy, concert style performance of The Sultans from the minute they arrived.
The evening proved to be one filled with excitement, surprises, and an abundance of positive energy. Following dinner, Wellington Club member Demetreous Holden drove the crowd of over 300 guests, to their feet with a standing ovation for his heartfelt speech. Demetreous shared with guests his experience with the Club and expressed his gratitude to the Club staff and supporters. “I have been attending the Boys and Girls club for two years thanks to the scholarship the Club offered me to attend. With 4 brothers and 3 sisters, every little bit helps,” said Demetreous. “My parents believe in me, but it helps to have people like Ms. Kenda, Ms. Grant, and Carlos encourage and believe in me too. I am thankful for all the loving and thoughtful people that have done so much for me and my family” he continued as he shared how he and his family were gifted with shoes and clothing this Holiday season thanks to the efforts of the staff at the Club. Thanking Neil S. Hirsch, Demetreous stated: “Mr. Hirsch, you made a very wise decision by founding The Boys and Girls Club of Wellington. You have given a lot of kids a safe place to go so they wouldn’t get into the temptations of this world. Who knows where we would be or what we would be doing if we didn’t have the Club”. “I would like to thank all the generous people that have made the Boys and Girls Club possible and Mr. Hirsch, Ms. Kenda, and all the staff of the Boys and Girls Club for working very hard to make the Club the best place for children to be, and for keeping the doors of the Boys and Girls Club open. Last but not least, to all those that gave and invested in the lives of the children of the next generation, I have two things to say……..THANK YOU!” concluded Demetreous.
Following Demetreous emotional speech, Honorary Chairman Tom Quick, kicked off the live auction and the Fight Hunger– Gifts from the Heart portion of the evening with a surprise announcement that this year’s gala Chairmen, Julie and Mike Connors, were graciously contributing an additional $500,000 to 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 six different individuals with a winning bid of $4,500 each, raising $27,000 for the evening. Other live auction items were a five night South African Adventure for two at the Ezulwini Lodge in Greater Kruger National Park; an exclusive resort package from the One&Only Ocean Club, the ultra-luxury resort in the Bahamas, which includes dinner for two at Dune under the direction of Michelin starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten; a seven-night adventure at Belmond Hotels in Cuzco, Machu Pichu and Lima, Peru with airfare for two; a Fighter Pilot experience for two; and a Yellowstone Club Experience in a five-bedroom lodge for four nights.
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.
