Jan Savarick, Neil Saffer and Dara Siegel
Photo Courtesy of The Rotary Club
On Saturday, Jan. 10, The Rotary Club of Boca Raton will host its 28th annual Outstanding People and Leaders (OPAL) Awards Gala at Boca West Country Club. Following a cocktail reception beginning at 6 p.m., guests will enjoy dinner as well as a live auction to support local students.
Along with honoring new OPAL Society members, five OPAL Awards will be presented. This year’s honorees are Abby Bernstein-Henderson and Steven Bernstein (Legacy of Giving), Michelle Hagerty (Agent of Impact), Haley and Brad Winstead (Philanthropic Power Couple), Van Williams (Champion for Education) and Myron Yudkin (Rotarian Lifetime Legacy Award).
Proceeds from the gala will go toward scholarships for high-achieving students with limited financial means to pursue further education. By partnering with Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach State College, the OPAL Society supports deserving scholars.
These funds allow students to pursue college careers in the arts, sciences, business and public service, or professional certification programs including emergency services, trades, computer sciences and marine technologies. The Rotary Club of Boca Raton has awarded over $3.5 million in scholarships to more than 600 students to date.
The impact goes beyond dollars: Every scholarship recipient is matched with a Rotary member mentor. The students receive support through internship placement, career development and job readiness, empowering the next generations to build meaningful careers and give back to the community.
Cochaired by Jan Savarick, Neil Saffer and Dara Siegel, together with Honorary Chair Christine E. Lynn, the OPAL Awards Gala is set to be a night of glamour and giving, leading to lifelong opportunities for young leaders.
The Boca Raton Observer is the exclusive media sponsor for this event.
For more information, visit opalawards.com.