Best Buddies International Second Annual Palm Beach Gala.
260
people attended the Second Annual Best Buddies Palm Beach Gala at
the Breakers Hotel on Friday, March 13, 2009. The event raised $550,000
for Best Buddies, a vibrant organization founded in 1989 by Anthony
Kennedy Shriver to enhance the lives of people with intellectual disabilities
by providing opportunities for one-to-one friendships and integrated
employment.
Palm Beach resident and philanthropist Mark Freitas served as the
Gala chairman. Additionally, Mr. Freitas, the
President and Chief Operating Officer of Frank Crystal & Company,
graciously committed his firm to be the Title Sponsor for the Gala,
and was instrumental in encouraging others, including Presenting Sponsors
Audi, UBS, Harry Winston and the Bank of New York Mellon; Gold Sponsors
Diana and Llwyd Ecclestone, Michele and Howard Kessler, the Quick family,
Martha and Dwight Schar, and the GEO Group – George Zoley; Silver
Sponsors Bacardi, Fiji, and Marquis Jets; and Bronze Sponsors the Charles
Evans Foundation, DDK & Company LLP, and London Fischer
LLP, to support it, as well.
Highlights of this magnificent evening included a cocktail hour in
the Breakers' Mediterranean Courtyard, a formal gourmet dinner,
an amazing auction, and entertainment by standards crooner Steve Maglio
and R & B legends The Spinners, who encouraged the enthusiastic
crowd to hit the dance floor for “Could It be I'm Falling
in Love,” “Working My Way Back to You/Forgive Me, Girl,” and “I'll
be Around.”
In addition to the aforementioned individuals, several other notable
figures attended the Gala, including Honorary Gala chair Thomas
C. Quick; vice-chairs Alina Shriver and Anthony K. Shriver; and Committee
members Linda Salandra Dweck, Diana Ecclestone and Llwyd Ecclestone,
Mary Freitas, Arij Gasiunasen, Anja Kaehny, Michele Kessler and Howard
Kessler, Terry Allen Kramer, Earle Mack, Amy Millman, Tatiana Platt
and Campion Platt, Patricia Quick, Nancy Rollnick and William D. Rollnick,
Max Scanavino, Brewer Schoeller, Susan Telesco and Dominick Telesco,
and Renee Wood. Delfina Blaquier, Nacho Figueras and Harriet Himmel
also attended the Gala.
