(PALM BEACH, Fla.) – As Grammy award winner Jon
Secada heated up the Mar-a-Lago stage at the
fifth annual Caron Renaissance Gala, benefit
chairman Petra Levin answered the night’s $1
million question, “Who was the surprise guest in
the back of the ballroom’s intimate candle-lit
setting?”
“Stewart Rahr is a friend of our honorary
chairman, Donald Trump,” said Levin as she
stopped Secada’s concert to let guests know the
surprise good news. “A guest at Mar-a-Lago, he
happened on our concert fundraiser and wanted to
support our cause. He just donated $1 and
then $300,000 more, to put our funds raised
tonight for scholarships to Caron Renaissance at
just over $1 million!”
The surprise announcement was just one of the
evening’s highlights as guests gathered to
celebrate the gala’s fifth anniversary and to
raise dollars for the Lifesaver Scholarship Fund
at Boca Raton-based Caron Renaissance. These
funds provide scholarships to those in need of
addiction treatment who would otherwise not have
the opportunity to benefit from the advanced
programming Caron provides.
The major gift was not the only showstopper for
the evening. Secada also coaxed Melania Trump
to center stage for a serenade.
“To celebrate five years of raising awareness
about substance abuse, we changed the
event format to stand out from past years," said
Levin. "Guests tell me that the relaxed
cocktail reception and poolside dinner were a
welcome change! The format allowed people to
talk with friends old and new, before they were
seated for the concert. It was a warm and
personal setting and it inspired incredible
generosity."
The special evening started with a poolside
cocktail reception and dinner under crystal
clear, blue skies. The star-lit pool was
centered by a magnificent floral Gala logo. The
event’s beautiful blue theme was echoed
throughout -- and even inspired the attire for
the Gala’s guests.
Poolside, guests could be found purchasing
chances to win the gold Panther bangle courtesy
of Cartier Palm Beach or bidding on silent
auction items graciously donated by Lamborghini,
Zac Posen, Lana Marks, David Drebin photography,
Old Homestead and Chef Dino Gatto from Rao’s.
Once guests moved into Mar-a-Lago’s grand
ballroom for the concert, they were welcomed by
Caron CEO Doug Tieman and event chairman, Petra
Levin.
Tieman publicly honored Caron Renaissance
executive director Sid Goodman for his 20-year
commitment to excellence at the South Florida
facility. He also presented awards to John
Terracino for Cartier‘s five-year commitment to
Caron as Grand Benefactor of the event.
Honorary chairman, Donald Trump, and Gala
chairman, Petra Levin, were also honored for
their five-year commitment.
In addition to Trump and Levin, the 2010 Caron
Renaissance Gala event chairs included junior
chairman Tiffany Marks, corporate chairman
Robert DeForest and leadership chairman Leigh
Wagner Smith.
Gala committee members included Adam Alpert,
Sevan Arslanian, Asia Baker, Austin Bryan,
Francesca Campbell, Daniela Dadurian, Randie
Dalia, Yasmin Dovas, Daniel F. Dresbach, Johanna
Dunn, Annie Falk, Andres Fanjul, Samantha Fiume,
Melissa Flax, Greg Gelinas, Barbara Gilbert,
Jaime Gleicher, Michael Idy, Simon Isaacs,
Paulette Koch, Chloe Loh, Christina MacFarland,
Benjamin MacFarland III, Lana Marks, Shelley
Menin, Nicole Munder, Zak Odhwani, Jane Oster,
Mark Palermo, Elizabeth Patipa, Alex Petersmarck,
Brian Popper, Allison Reckson, Julie Rudolph,
Jana Scarpa, Jessie Schuster, Brad Sorte, John
Terracino, Tara Tobin, Denise Vasi, Julianne
Wainstein, Michael Wainstein, Kingsley
Woolsworth, Eric P. Yorlano, Matthew Zimmerman
and
Samantha Zimmerman.
Sponsors for the Gala were Grand Benefactor,
Cartier Palm Beach; Fashion Title Sponsor, Zac
Posen; Leadership Sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Stephen
Levin and Leigh Wagner Smith; Patron Sponsors,
Gold Coast Beverage Distributors and Lamborghini
Palm Beach; Benefactor Sponsors, Ken Langone,
Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management, James
Millar and Wachovia Commercial division, a Wells
Fargo Company along with Wells Fargo Private
Bank and Media Sponsor, Palm Beach Illustrated.
The evening concluded with dessert and a DJ
for dancing, poolside.
“There was great energy at this event and it was
felt throughout the entire evening,” said
Levin. “I am so grateful for everyone’s
tremendous dedication and support.”
Caron Treatment Centers is one of the finest
nationally recognized non-profit drug and
alcohol treatment networks in the country with
six locations, offering residential treatment
and outpatient programs for adults and
adolescents, as well as families affected by the
disease of addiction. Caron’s Renaissance
facility opened a new state-of-the-art treatment
office in South Florida last year, and this year
is celebrating its 20th anniversary with
groundbreaking on-site family programs, and
pioneering new advances in the field of
addiction treatment. For more information about
the Caron Renaissance, please visit www.
caronrenaissance.org.