A Night At The Oscars with St. Jude Catholic Church and School

Published March 9th, 2008

The red carpet will be out for local luminaries as St. Jude Catholic School and Church celebrates its 15th annual gala on March 29 at the Country Club at Boca Raton.  The theme for the evening is “A Night at the Oscars,” in recognition of the South Florida stars who will be honored for their contributions to the community.

Elaine J. Wold will be presented the Christine E. Lynn ‘Our Lady of Mt. Carmel’ Award, given annually to a non-member of the church who has shared his or her time, treasure or talent in a way that positively impacts the lives of those around us.

Wold and her late husband, Dr. Keith Wold, have been major donors to Lynn University, Boca Raton Community Hospital Foundation, Nova Law School, Saint Andrews School and other South Florida charities. 

“Elaine has an uncommon spirit and a depth of generosity that’s hard to match,” said Father Michael Driscoll, pastor of St. Jude Parish.  “She’s taken an active role in making our community a better place to live, and we’re fortunate for her selfless involvement.”

Receiving the Ronald G. Assaf Benefactor Award will be John J. Gallo, Jr., development director for Lynn University.  The award is given annually to a church member who has distinguished him or herself for outstanding contributions to the betterment of the parish, an honor that Gallo richly deserves. 

“John is amazing when it comes to raising interest, raising funding and raising spirits,” said Father Driscoll.  “When you consider how many lives he’s changed through his work, it’s clear that this honor is very well earned.”

Members of St. Jude Parish who will be recognized are Josephine Sampson and Kathy Lepore, both receiving the Eleanor Zaccagnini Stewardship Awards, and Kevin R. Cleary, receiving the Douglas Stevens Family Golden Apple Teacher Award. 

All will be given beautiful Waterford crystal pieces by Drs. Violeta and Vincente Chiong, co-chairs of the gala.  Jan McArt, “The First Lady of Florida’s Musical Theater,” will serve as presenter for the evening, bringing her brand of entertaining and engaging stage craft to the event.

The gala is open to the public.  Tickets are available for $195 by contacting Harry Fear at 561-392-8172, ext. 13. All proceeds go to the St. Jude Parish Family Life Center Building Fund.

Tri County Humane Society
6th Annual “Dawg-ie” Ball

Tri County Humane Society’s 6th Annual “Dawg-ie” Ball will take place March 16 at Boca West Country Club.  The fun-filled evening with a Wild West theme includes a live band and dancing, cocktails, hors d’ oeuvres, a sit-down dinner, and live and silent Auctions. Tri County Humane Society is a no-kill, not-for-profit animal shelter that rescues more than 2,500 dogs, cats, pups and kittens, each year. “These precious animals all deserve second chances, and that’s what we’re giving them”, says Arlette Baker and Annie Green, Event Chairs.  Auction items range from a Zero-Gravity Flight out of The Kennedy Space Center, a Rolex Watch donated by JR Dunn Jewelers, a Dazzling Diamond Ring, Stunning Pearls from Altier Jewelers and Fighter Jet and Blimp rides. Tickets for the “Dawg-ie” Ball are $225 per person.  For reservations, call 561 482-8110.

South Florida VIPs
KIND Benefit at the Shore

The South Florida VIPs (Very Innovative Professionals) will be hosting a St. Patrick’s Day-themed event at the Shore Restaurant and Beach Bar in Delray Beach on March 15. Shore Restaurant and Beach Bar is located at the corner of A1A and Atlantic Avenue in Delray Beach. The party starts at 8:30 p.m. and guests will receive a complimentary beverage and assorted appetizers, along with a special “VIP”-priced Green Martini in keeping with the theme! A live DJ will keep the fun going and there will be some very special raffle prizes to help raise funds for Kids in New Directions (KIND) the charity of choice for South Florida VIPs. Tickets are $20 per person in advance and all proceeds will benefit the programs of KIND. To purchase tickets, visit www.sfvips.com, or call Natalie Cwick, Executive Director for KIND, at 561-962-4185. Sign up for free VIP membership at www.sfvips.com.

Old School Square
4th Annual Circle on the Square

Old School Square Cultural Arts Center’s fourth annual Circle on the Square fundraising event  will take place, April 12, from 7 to 10:30 p.m., at Old School Square’s Entertainment Pavilion.  This year’s theme is “Mingle & Mambo,” and guests will enjoy live Latin music as they sip international wines and liquors and sample Delray’s finest cuisines and desserts. Honorary chairs are Scott and Melissa Porten of Delray Beach.  Scott serves on Old School Square’s board of directors and is president of Porten Companies.  “It is our pleasure to be the first honorary chairs for Circle on the Square,” says Scott Porten. “We are proud supporters of what has become Delray Beach’s epicenter of art and culture.   Proceeds will benefit program development in the Crest Theatre and Pavilion at Old School Square Cultural Arts Center.  Advance tickets are $90 and $120 (VIP).  At the gate, tickets will be $120 and $150.  Call 561-243-7922, ext. 310 or purchase on-line at www.circleonthesquare.com. 

Royale Woman’s Club
Honor Your Doctor Luncheon

The GFWC Royale Woman’s Club of Boca Raton will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Honor Your Doctor Scholarship Luncheon, March 26, at Boca West Country Club. Festivities begin at 11:30 a.m. and include a social hour, entertainment, raffle prizes, luncheon and awards ceremonies. The Keynote speaker is Daniel Higgins, M.D., President of the Palm Beach County Medical Society.  Proceeds of the luncheon benefit the Helen M. Babione Medical Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships for students enrolled in the health care field at Florida Atlantic University, Palm Beach Community College and Lynn University. Dr. Barry Davis, Distinguished Doctor of the year for 2007, is Honorary Doctor’s Advisor. Elaine Wold is Honorary Chairwoman. Honorary Advisor is Patti Carpenter. Janice Williams and Susan Sherwood are Co-Chair-persons.  Club Advisors include Helen Babione, Joan Weidenfeld and Pernille Ostberg. Tickets are $65 per person. For reservations contact Janice Williams at 561-471-2979 or Susan Sherwood at 561-433-3101.    

Diabetes Research Institute
Love and Hope Ball

More than 500 guests attended this year’s Love and Hope Ball.  Themed An Evening of Dance and Romance, the 34th annual black-tie gala was held at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa, Feb. 16.   In combination with the Love and Hope Preview Party in December, gala raised more than $1 million for the cure-focused work of the Diabetes Research Institute (DRI) at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. DRI Foundation President and CEO Robert A. Pearlman is a Boca Raton resident. Musical legend Barry Gibb and serves as the fundraising group’s International Chairman, along with his wife Linda. The Gibbs’ children, Stephen and Gloria, Ashley and Therese, Travis and Stacey, Michael, and Ali Gibb, debuted as the first Young Society Honorees. For more information on DRI, call 1-800-321-3437 or visit www.diabetesresearch.org.

Israel Cancer Association USA
“A Night in Red Hot Rio” Gala

Israel Cancer Association USA (ICA USA) hosted “A Night in Red Hot Rio” gala at The Breakers on Feb. 10 for Israel Cancer Association’s (ICA) new Stem Cell Initiative. Breaking from black tie tradition, the four event co-chairs-- Jan Willinger, Nancy Brown, Cobey Rapaport and Elizabeth Thompson--greeted 180 guests all dressed in “Rio chic” for cocktails and hors d’oeuvres preceding a lively dinner dance to the samba sounds of the Valerie Tyson Band.  Also breaking from tradition, ICA USA president Roy Apple announced a speech-free evening after thanking guests for their support.  Jan Willinger followed with a brief acknowledgment to grand corporate benefactor Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown and to grand benefactors Nancy and Peter Brown, Rhoda and David Chase, Joan and Charles Lazarus, and Linda R. Kaminow. For information about ICA USA, call 561-832-9277 or visit www.icausa.org.

Unity School 
Annual Underwriters’ Party

More than 150 guests attended Unity School’s  Annual Underwriters’ Party at the Delray Beach Playhouse. The Broadway–themed event raised more than $21,000 from ticket sales, raffle prizes, class projects, professional artwork, hand-painted furniture, carefully crafted quilts and more. The funds will underwrite expenses for the Unity School Annual Auction, scheduled for March 15 at the Kravis Center. Unity School Head of School Maria Barber said, “We have the finest parents and supporters who also know how to have a great time. It was a fantastic party and the end result is our students will benefit from your generosity and support.”  The evening was organized by three dedicated moms, Janet Goldman, Michelle Kelman and Suzette Bocchino. For more information. call Peggy Gossett-Seidman at 561-271-5050.

South Florida Science Museum
Diamond Constellation Ball

The South Florida Science Museum held its 21st annual black-tie fundraiser, The Diamond Constellation Ball, at The Breakers Palm Beach, Jan. 19.  “Each year the gala raises funds that go towards the South Florida Science Museum’s operations and on-going science education enrichment programs,” said chairman, Beverly White Yeager. “These programs ignite children’s excitement in the sciences and inspire them to become tomorrow’s science leaders. As a valuable asset to the community the South Florida is in a unique position to reach out to even more children in Palm Beach County and bring science education in their lives.”  Mary Frances Turner was co-chairman, and Julie Rudolph and Kathryn C. Vecellio were honorary chairmen. The South Florida Science Museum is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, at the north end of Dreher Park, West Palm Beach For more information, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.                            

American Red Cross
51st International Red Cross Ball

“Our grand dame has reached a ‘certain age’ but with all her style, charm and grace intact!,” said Chairman Nancy Ellison Rollnick, who along with Chairman Bill Rollnick, greeted the guests of this year’s 51st International Red Cross Ball held at Mar-A-Lago in Palm Beach.  “We were delighted by the presence and support of our many distinguished guests at the 51st  International Red Cross Ball and were especially pleased to reintroduce a new generation of supporters to the Young Friends Gala,” said Bill Rollnick.  “Nancy and I, on behalf of the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, are deeply grateful to our generous sponsors and guests and are truly proud to have been a part of this year's successful International Ball.” To make a donation to the American Red Cross Greater Palm Beach Area Chapter, 561-833-7711 or visit www.redcross-pbc.org.

Hadassah

Society of Major Donors Reunion

More than 200 of Hadassah’s most generous supporters gathered at the organization’s eighth annual Society of Major Donors Reunion held recently in Boca Raton. The event, which featured presentations from several of the Hadassah Medical Organization’s top researchers and physicians raised $4.5 million to support Hadassah’s projects in Israel. Guest speakers from Israel were: Professor Shlomo Mor-Yosef, director general of Hadassah Medical Organization, Professor Benjamin Reubinoff, director of Hadassah’s embryonic stem cell research center and Professor Jose Cohen, director of endovascular neurosurgery and interventional nueroradiology. Judy Swartz of Delray Beach chaired the event. “I feel so privileged to be able to work with these extraordinary donors who understand that their generosity provides opportunities that make the world a better place,” Swartz said. To become a member of the Society of Major Donors, members must make a minimum $100,000 contribution. For further information, call Lisa Moore at 561-997-6988.

South Florida VIPs C.O.T.A. Fundraiser

South Florida VIPs (Very Innovative Professionals) hosted a football themed event, Feb. 1, at Hooters, Pompano Beach to benefit the Children’s Organ Transplant Association (COTA) and teenager,  Brieanna Yowell. Over 100 guests kicked off Super Bowl XLII weekend at an action packed party filled with great food, great music provided by DJ Cliff Moitt  and great photos by Joseph of Allure Multimedia. Fabulous raffle prizes were provided by: Aloha Laser, ITC Tennis and Hooters Restaurants.  The VIPs donated all event proceeds to COTA, a national charity dedicated to organizing and guiding communities in raising funds for transplant-needy patients.   Funds from the VIP event were designated in support of Brieanna Yowell, a local teen in need of a double lung transplant. “Our Super Bowl party was a great success. We are so grateful to Hooters of Pompano Beach for hosting us,” said Nicole Flier. Sign up for free VIP membership at www.sfvips.com. 
           
Saks Boca Raton
Etro Fashion Show

Saks Boca Raton hosted an Etro fashion show and brunch to benefit the Alzheimer’s Association, Feb. 5.  More than 120 fashionable guests came together to view Etro’s spring/summer 2008 collection and raise awareness and funds for the Alzheimer’s Association.   The Etro design house was founded in Milan in 1968, Gimmo Etro, a textile designer. Now, he oversees the privately held company which is run by his children:  Jacopo, Kean, Ippolito and Veronica. Etro is renowned for its poetic sophisticated, colorful designs and the spring /summer women’s collection titled, “The Kaleidoscope Woman” embodies those qualities. For more information or to view the Etro collection, call 561-620-1323.

Food For The Poor
Catch A Tropical Breeze Gala