INAUGURAL BOCA RATON MAYOR’S BALL
PRESENTED AND HOSTED BY ROTARY CLUB DOWNTOWN BOCA
SET FOR SATURDAY, OCTOBER 17TH AT BROKEN SOUND CLUB
Proceeds To Benefit Health And Wellness Needs of Boca Raton Nonprofits
Fulfilled Through Club’s New Grant Program To Be Unveiled In September
BOCA RATON, FL (July 14, 2015) – The Rotary Club of Downtown Boca Raton announces it will produce and present the Inaugural Boca Raton Mayor’s Ball, a black-tie dinner/dance gala that will be held at Broken Sound Club (BSC) on Saturday, October 17, 2015 featuring a grand epicurean experience created by BSC Executive Chef Joe Longo, Jr. set amidst City-themed décor and the music of the Steve Chase Band. The first-time event, planned to be an annual early season opener to honor the elected officials who exemplify Rotary International’s motto, “Service Above Self” and the City’s visionaries past and present who have elevated the community will raise funds to support health and wellness needs of Boca Raton nonprofits. Funds raised each year through the annual Boca Raton Mayor’s Ball will fulfill grant requests approved through the Rotary Club Downtown Boca’s formal grant application program to be unveiled in September that will be open to all Boca Raton-based nonprofits with needs for health and wellness services and programming.
Following in the tradition set by the iconic cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach where Mayor’s Balls have long been coveted celebratory ‘must go’ annual events, the inaugural Rotary Club Downtown Boca Mayor’s Ball Co-chairs and charter club members Kari Oeltjen and Jon Kaye look forward to Rotary Club Downtown Boca setting the stage for such a prestigious annual event to spotlight Boca Raton and its visionaries, stakeholders, achievements and contributions.
“The Mayor’s Ball is a tribute to those who have made this community the best it can be and the generosity that continues to make a difference in the lives of so many,” said Rotary Club Downtown Boca President Jon Kaye. “We expect the dance floor to be filled, reconnections made, and relationships renewed and strengthened as together we celebrate ‘all that is Boca’.”
Adding historical perspective to the Ball, Kaye and Oeltjen reported that the Rotary Club Downtown Boca has established the ‘George Long Awards’ — named for the City’s first appointed mayor in 1924 whose devotion to Boca Raton was precedent-setting – that will be presented to both an individual and an organization that have each championed the tradition of bringing indelible visionary ideas and transformation to Boca Raton.
Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie will serve as honorary chair. Honorary advisors include former mayors Susan Whelchel and Steven Abrams, who currently serves as a Palm Beach County Commissioner; Boca Raton Deputy Mayor Robert Weinroth; Former Deputy Mayor Constance Scott and Council Members Michael Mullaugh, Jeremy Rodgers and Scott Singer.
“Tapping the Boca Raton Historical Society as a valued resource, its executive director Mary Csar and museum curator Sue Gillis to assist in forwarding a meaningful theme, we envision the Mayor’s Ball as an opportunity for participants to enjoy and enhance their appreciation of the City’s history and its boldness,” said Mayor’s Ball Co-Chair Kari Oeltjen. “To date, the response and commitment from Boca-based business, civic, and community leaders for an annual Boca Raton Mayor’s Ball and its mission has been strong.” She added that a host committee is in formation representing a diverse cross-section of city and community advocates and stakeholders that will soon be announced along with inaugural sponsors and ‘George Long Award’ recipients.
Boca Raton Mayor’s Ball committee members include 2016 Ball co-chairs Penny Morey and Lewis Fogel along with Carole Boucard, Frank Feiler, Gary Flaks, Marleen Forkas, Deborah Freudenberg, Ingrid Fulmer, Rick Howard, Alan Kaye, Ken Kaylor, Brian Long, Linda Petrakis, Joseph Pores, Dr. Ron Rubin, Howard Tai, Robin Trompeter, Michael Walstrom and Janice Williams.
Founded in July 2011, The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton – recently named the 2014-2015 District ‘Rotary Club of the Year’ — is dedicated to impacting the Boca Raton community through Rotary International’s mission of “Service Above Self”. The award-winning 501(c)3 nonprofit’s purpose is to make a difference in its community by enhancing the lives of many in an environment embraces and promotes integrity, friendship, camaraderie and trust. While the Mayor’s Ball will fund the Club’s grant program, the Club also presents the “Annual Honor Your Doctor Luncheon” founded by Helen M. Babione that for 18 years has recognized physician leadership and excellence in healthcare while raising scholarship monies for medical students at Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, Nursing students at the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing at Florida Atlantic University, Student scholarships at Lynn University and Palm Beach State College. The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton is one of Rotary International’s 34,000 clubs in more than 200 countries that connect 1.2 million Rotarians with diverse cross-sections of thought and action leaders and stakeholders, link diverse perspectives and build lasting relationships to take action in communities at home and around the globe.
For sponsorship and underwriting opportunities as well as ticket reservations, visit www.rotarydowntownbocaraton.org or contact Deborah Freudenberg at 561-299-1429, email Deborah@thefreuds.com.
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