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By Marci Shatzman
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A happy crowd put a wrap on Saturday night fundraisers this social season at Boca Helping Hands’ annual MONOPOLY® & Casino Night gala.
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It was also a wrap for BHH’s well-known executive director Greg Hazle, who announced he’ll retire on May 31 after eight years. He’s ready for grandparenting duty, he told a full house at Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club. “He was a board member and made the ultimate act of service,” said gala co-chair Alex Price. Hazle got a standing ovation. Andrew Hagen told us he’ll step aside as pastor of Advent Lutheran Church here and he’s ready to step in.
The famous board game was the dance floor design but also took a back seat after a record number of serious players competed at a qualifying VIP on April 2 at The Addison. Five of them vied at one table at the gala, and Mike Wohl came out on top, winning a trophy, a sash and champagne flutes. It was his second win, according to Karen Swedenborg, associate director of development, annual giving and stewardship. She got a shoutout for helping organize the fundraiser and flowers from gala co-chairs Price and his wife Jessica and Yvette and Chris Palermo.
The theme was “Gambling on Gatsby” so even the centerpieces were feathers and most of the women wore the appropriate flapper regalia. Vallaye Adams of Alpert Enterprises was in costume, too, and led the fundraising, from live auction items including 25 high-end wine and spirits, stays and trips, a Cartier watch from Altier Jewelers and a ‘gift for the heart,’ donations to pay for BHH services, from food distribution, to education, healthcare and job training. On a video, Hazle cited the increased demand “and uncertainty we’ll be able to meet the demand for our clients this year.” BHH has received 40% less food than last year and donations are down, he said.
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JM Family Enterprises was the presenting sponsor. Gary Peters, the longtime board chairman, was there, and a sponsor through his family foundation. Among the other sponsors were Carrie Rubin, Zoe Lanham and The Addison, Lee Pearlson Steinberg’s foundation, Amy and Mike Kazma, Kimberly and Kenny Ackerman and Susan and Peter Brockway.
This year’s gala committee members included Kathy Adkins, Ronnie Bidder, Yolanda Brennan, Andrea Chang, Robin Deyo, Justin Ely, Binky Fash, Christie Galeano-DeMott, Nikki Gentile, Al Goldberg, Jonie Goldberg, Phoebe Kolesar, Mark Malis, Michelle Martin, Wendy Sadusky, Joanna Thomson, Bob Tucker, Trisha Vaca, and Yasmine Zyne-Coleman.