Palm
Beach/Palm Beach Gardens – February 2009 – Hope sprung
eternal as Place of Hope and Villages of Hope raised
$243,000 at its Third Annual Hope Ball, held February 6,
2009 at The Breakers in
Palm Beach.
The
funds benefit the operating expenses of both Place of
Hope and Villages of Hope to help serve more foster
children and their siblings from Palm Beach County. The gala event was co-chaired by
Cheri Martin and Alex DeLange and welcomed among its
almost 300 guests Florida Senate President Jeff Atwater
and U.S. Congressman Tom Rooney.
“The
2009 Hope Ball was a beautiful evening of celebration
for the lives of children who are in need, and we are
extremely grateful to those who gave so generously on
behalf of these children. It was wonderful to see so
many open their hearts and embrace the cause,” said
Martin.
Place
of Hope, one of the largest family-style child welfare
organizations in Florida, provides emergency and
long-term family-style foster care, family outreach and
intervention, transitional housing and support services,
adoption and foster care recruitment and support, and
hope and healing opportunities for children and families
who have been traumatized by abuse and neglect.
Villages of Hope provides independent living residential
support and life-skills development for emancipated
foster and other homeless youth. More than just a place
to live, it also provides a supportive and proactive
transitional environment. Both organizations are located
in Palm
Beach Gardens.
“The
Hope Ball is an opportunity to show everyone the ‘heart
of Place of Hope,’ which is the care and strength that
is given to the children every day,” said DeLange.
“Cheri Martin and I wanted our guests to understand just
how imperative and important their support is to these
lives that have been so damaged and hurt. And I think
the heart really showed through that evening because
everyone found a way to give even in these uncertain
times.”
Evening highlights included performances by youth
orchestra Fiddleworks of Deerfield Beach, a stellar live
auction bid of $10,000 for a Napa Valley trip by Chuck and Jane Beth Wall,
and a silent auction featuring 170 items.
Special thanks go to Hope Ball Family Sponsors Gordon
and Cheri Martin and the Martin and Parr families; Faith
Sponsor The Albert E. and Birdie W. Einstein Fund; Love
Sponsor Christ Fellowship Church; Grace Sponsors The
Lawrence and Florence DeGeorge Charitable Trust, Chad
LaBonte and Erin Rossitto, Kathleen Speh and family;
Table Sponsors Calibre; Cameron, Davis & Gonzalez, P.A.,
Attorneys at Law; Christopher and Deana Cerniglia;
Richard and Kathy Cullifer; Dr. Greg and Mrs. Alex
DeLange; Chuck and Sheilagh Hardwick; David and Gail
Hess; Dr. & Mrs. Mark Kuhl; Joy and Mike Miltenberger;
Mickey and Brenda Nocera; Palm Beach Motor Cars; Maudie
Pande, in memory of Lawrence A. Pande Jr.; Ursula
Pappas, in memory of Michael Pappas; Michael and Diane
Simon/Randy and Jill Macpherson; Harris and Debbie
Weinstein; Table Hosts Michael and Martha Burke; Merrill
and Lorraine Eastman /Marshall and Irene Jones; Eric and
Sue Ende; R.G. and Marilyn LaBonte; Jennifer Lantz;
Lorraine and Ceasar Rossitto; Community Sponsors 1450,
Inc. and Dr. and Mrs. Eric Fishman; Harris Private Bank;
Kenneth D. Lemoine, P.A.; Mr. and Mrs. Leland Morris;
PriceWaterhouse Coopers; Coldwell Banker Residential
Real Estate; and Hal and Stephanie Valeche.