Palm Beach,
Fla
(December 4, 2008) -- The
beautiful Breakers Hotel was
the scene of a splendid
evening November
29, 2008, as
LIFE
- Leaders In Furthering
Education hosted the 15th
annual "Lady In Red" Gala.
Lois Pope, Petra Levin and
Suzi Goldsmith were
Chairwomen. Mary
Montgomery was Honorary
Chairwoman while Katie
Vecellio was
philanthropy honoree and
Palm Beach Chief of Police
Michael Reiter was Community
Service Honoree. Regis
Philbin
served as Master of
Ceremonies for the evening.
This much anticipated start
of the
Palm Beach
social season began at
6:30 pm
with cocktails and a silent
auction followed at
8:00 pm
by dinner, dancing, music by
Soul Survivor and a
breathtaking live
performance by Dennis
Edwards and the Temptations
Review. Simon Fireman
graciously donated $100,000
to match each $6,000 table
with an additional table so
that more than 100 disabled
veterans might attend
the gala.
In a characteristic
demonstration of gratitude
for the enormous sacrifices
made by the three million
living disabled American
veterans, including the more
than 53,000 who have served
in
Iraq
and
Afghanistan,
nationally prominent
philanthropist Lois Pope
presented a check for $5
million to help build the
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial. To be
constructed on a two-acre
plot in
Washington
D.C.,
the Memorial will be the
first – and only – permanent
national tribute to the
living disabled veterans,
the countless thousands who
have since died, and those
who will come in the future.
“What a wonderful evening
this was!” said Lois Pope,
founder and president of
LIFE.
“Not only because was I able
to share the night with my
many wonderful friends, but
also because, thanks to
Simon Fireman, I was able to
celebrate reaching a
momentous goal for the
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial with many
of the disabled veterans we
seek to honor. We can
never .
. . never forget
their sacrifice, their
bravery and their loss - all
in the name of freedom.”
The check was formally
presented at a private
ceremony with dozens of
disabled American veterans
prior to the 15th
Annual Lady in Red Gala, the
check from Mrs. Pope is
payment in full on a
challenge grant she made in
2006 to the Disabled
Veterans
LIFE
Memorial Foundation, the
organization she co-founded
with Mr. Wilson to spearhead
the fundraising to build the
Memorial, which will be
located across from the U.S.
Botanic Garden and within
full view of the U.S.
Capitol building. According
to the requirements of the
challenge grant, the
Foundation had to raise from
private philanthropic
sources $5 million, which
Mrs. Pope would match on a
dollar-for-dollar basis.
This goal was achieved on
Oct. 31.
The rosy
robed attendees also enjoyed
an amazing menu topped off
by that southern culinary
delight specially created by
Breakers Executive Chef of
Banquets Jeff Simms, the
Lady in Red Velvet Cup
Cake. Ruby Grand Corporate
Benefactor Tiffany & Co sent
guests home with a beautiful
table gift in that one of a
kind blue box sure to put a
smile on anyone’s face. Citi
Private Bank, Mark Freitas
of Frank Crystal Company and
Braman
Motorcars served as Star
Ruby Corporate Benefactors.
The evening was topped off
with fabulous silent & live
auctions. A pink
Vespa
was up for bid in the silent
auction. The live auction
included a walk-on role on
the popular CBS show
CSI:
NY. Actor Gary
Sinise,
who stars in the show, sent
a special message for guests
at The “Lady in Red” Gala.
Sinise,
whose performance as a
disabled
Vietnam
veteran in "Forrest Gump"
earned him an Academy Award
nomination for Best
Supporting Actor, has long
been a spokesman for the
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial. Also up
for bid in the live auction
was an exquisite
one-of-a-kind watch donated
by Ruby Corporate
Benefactor, Tiffany &
Company. This Ladies 18kt
yellow gold and diamond,
Tiffany & Co. Tesoro watch
boasts 4.50 carats of
diamonds and is valued at
$27,500. Star Ruby
Corporate Benefactor
Braman
Motorcars provided a 2009
bright red Mini Cooper
Hardtop, also up for bid in
the live auction. For more
information on the 2009 Mini
Cooper please
be
sure to check out www.mimiusa.com
The Mini-Cooper is valued
at $20,950.
Proceeds raised from the 15th
annual “Lady in red” Gala
will directly benefit the
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial in
Washington,
DC.
The Memorial will be built
adjacent to the National
Mall and within full view of
the
U.S
Capitol
Building.
“The Memorial
is for all of our disabled
veterans . . . from every
state . . . every
hometown.” said Lois Pope.
“They fought for us all and
gave up more than we can
possibly imagine. It is
time we recognized their
sacrifice and I am so
grateful to everyone who has
helped to make the Memorial
a reality.”
For the first time,
America
will honor some of our
nation’s most courageous
heroes – our disabled
American veterans – the
ranks of which today
represent more than three
million living men and woman
and all those who have
passed before them. The
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial will
transcend military
conflicts, service branches
and generations and will
express
America’s
lasting gratitude to the men
and women whose lives were
forever changed in service
to our country. The
Memorial will be dedicated
in 2010.
More
information about the
American Veterans Disabled
for Life Memorial is
available at
www.avdlm.org
For additional information
about the 15th
annual “Lady
In
Red” Gala please call (561)
865-0955 or visit
www.life-edu.org