The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s 39th Annual Gala, The Winter Ball, once again broke a fundraising record.
The event took place at The Breakers Palm Beach and raised more than $1.8 million as the Venetian Ballroom was transformed into a Japanese-inspired garden, complete with budding cherry blossoms. All proceeds will benefit 13 Boys & Girls Clubs throughout Palm Beach County.
Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres in the Mediterranean Ballroom kicked off the evening. Boys & Girls Club members, directed by The Symphonia strings program, performed a short concert as guests moved into the Venetian Ballroom for dinner. Guests then danced the night away to the high-energy sounds of Bob Merrill – a bandleader and renowned jazz trumpeter.
Following dinner, Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County’s Youth of the Year Kalayah Samuels tugged at the heartstrings of more than 400 with her personal and heartwarming speech. She spoke of her positive experience at the club and expressed gratitude to the club staff and supporters. As a result of winning a full scholarship by being named Youth of the Year, Samuels is now in her second semester at Palm Beach State College and has plans to transfer next year to Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University.
A record-breaking live auction was the surprise of the evening, raising more than $200,000. Afterward, Gala Honorary Chairman Tom Quick and Reid Boren launched the Call to the Heart portion of the evening, raising nearly $400,000 more for the nonprofit. O
For more information, call 561-683-3287 or visit bgcpbc.org.
Photo by Capehart