(PALM BEACH, FL---)
The Policemen’s Ball, the
Palm Beach Police Foundation’s annual fundraiser, held
at Mar-a-Lago on January 10, 2008, drew a sellout crowd
of 500 supporters and guests that included Palm Beach
Police Department officers and employees. The dinner
dance and live auction, which was conducted by
auctioneer Bill Bone, raised more than $750,000 (gross).
Bridget Rooney
Koch and William I. Koch were the Honorary Chairmen, and
Eileen and Brian P. Burns served as Executive Ball
Committee Chairmen. The evening began with a moonlit
poolside cocktail reception where guests enjoyed
cocktails and hors d’oeuvres to the strains of a steel
band. The guests were then escorted to the Grand
Ballroom where Palm Beach Pipes and Drums played at the
entryway followed by the Presentation of the Colors by
the Palm Beach Police Department Honor Guard. The
National Anthem was performed by Daniel Cochran, winner
of the Palm Beach Pops 2008-2009 Palm Beach Popstar, and
the Invocation was given by Captain Fred Hess.
John F. Scarpa,
president of The Palm Beach Police Foundation, welcomed
the guests, acknowledged the Kochs and Burns, and
introduced Michael S. Reiter, Palm Beach Police Chief,
who presented the Third Annual Palm Tree Award to
Bridget Rooney Koch and William I. Koch in recognition
of their outstanding civic activity and philanthropy. A
sumptuous dinner was served and entertainment provided
by Soul Survivor, kept a constant crowd on the dance
floor.
The mission of the Palm Beach
Police Foundation is to support the Palm Beach Police
Department and its sworn officers and civilian employees
through the acceptance and management of tax-deductible
gifts and contributions.
The Palm Beach Police
Foundation, Inc. was established in 2006 by members of
the Fraternal Order of the Police (FOP) and its civilian
arm, and the Fraternal Order of the Police Associates (FOPA).
The Board of directors is composed of town residents and
police officers that include three FOP board members,
three FOPA associates and three civic members.
Headquartered in
Palm Beach, the foundation is a not-for-profit,
501(C)(3) organization that accepts and manages the tax
deductible gifts and donations to the Palm Beach Police
Department, and distributes donations that remain in the
town, to a variety of police department causes including
scholarships and grants for education, new equipment and
assistance to officers
in need.
The Palm Beach
Police Foundation provides funding to Palm Beach Crime
Watch, Inc., the 25 year-old non-profit organization
that promotes citizen participation in crime prevention
in the residential and business communities through
a variety of programs and bi-monthly newsletter