PALM BEACH – Guests at a
committee kickoff reception
for the
It Happened to Alexa foundation,
held recently at the
Breakers, learned that
lightning-rod speaker Bill
O’Reilly will return as the
headliner for the third
annual Justice is Served
benefit event scheduled for
Friday, March 25 at the
Mar-a-Lago Club,
Palm Beach.
The kickoff reception was
hosted by Mary Campbell and
showcased the 18kt white
gold diamond and south-sea
pearl drop earrings which
will star in the live
auction on March 25th
at
Mar-A-Lago. The earrings,
valued at $14,000, were
donated by Eloquence of
North Palm Beach for the
event. Foundation founders,
Stacey and Tom Branchini,
welcomed guests and
presented an overview for
the return visit next month
of the syndicated talk show
host and author.
O’Reilly says he is
passionate about the cause,
named after Alexa Branchini
– whose parents founded
It Happened to Alexa in
2003 after their daughter
was assaulted and raped as a
freshman during only her
second week at college.
“This benefit assists our
Foundation’s goal of
ensuring that sexual
predators are taken off the
streets,” said Tom Branchini.
“Florida has one of the
highest rates of sexual
assault in the nation. The
funds raised at our Palm
Beach event are critical in
helping us to help so many
other families in a
desperate time of need. We
are incredibly grateful for
your support.”
Patrick Park and Nathalie
Fernandez will serve as the
event’s Chairmen. Donald
and Melania Trump and Walter
Ross have been named
Honorary Chairmen. The
third annual event is
dedicated to the memory of
Cathleen McFarlane-Ross,
2009 Event Chairman.
Kicking off with a poolside
reception and dinner,
Justice is Served will
feature O’Reilly’s keynote
as part of the general
program. VIP ticket holders
will also have the
opportunity to meet O’Reilly
and participate in a book
signing and special
reception of their own.
Event sponsors include
Patrick Park and Natalie
Fernandez,
William O’Reilly Foundation,
Raptor Technologies, Inc.,
American Airlines, Mary
Campbell, Donald J. Trump
Foundation, Inc., The Kazma
Family, Thomas and Cindy
Feltenstein, McFarlane
Charitable Foundation, Mr.
and Mrs. Edward Robinson,
Newsmax Media, Inc.,
Eloquence Fine Jewelry,
Roberto Coin -Saks 5th
Avenue, Palm Beach, Advanced
Jets, Gulfstream Media Group
and John and Monika Preston.
IHTA is the only foundation
of its kind in the United
States, providing direct
financial assistance to rape
victims’ families for
travel-related expenses
during the litigation
process. After their
daughter’s long and
traumatic trial ended, the
Branchinis realized that
many families in similar
circumstances would not have
the finances to support the
travel and lodging costs
incurred in an out-of-town
trial. They didn’t want a
lack of funds to prevent any
rape victim from prosecuting
her (or his) attacker.
According to Branchini, when
It Happened to Alexa
is involved in assisting a
family to support a victim,
the rate of conviction for
those cases is more than 85
percent. When the
foundation is not involved
and a victim does not have
the support of family
through a difficult trial,
the conviction rate is at
about five percent.
Alexa, who testified at her
own monthlong trial, says,
“I wouldn’t have testified
if my family hadn’t been
with me.”
For more information on It
Happened to Alexa, or for
tickets to the March 25
benefit, please visit
www.ithappenedtoalexa.org
or call
877-77ALEXA, toll-free.