(PALM BEACH) – A little rain didn’t stop
the Center for Creative Education (CCE)
from entertaining more than 250 guests
at the annual Spring Luncheon. On March
10 when the clouds parted, guests were
treated to an afternoon of lunch, art
and dessert at the home of CCE’s
honorary chairman, Kenn Karakul.
The sun really came out as a tiny but
powerful speaker,
10-year-old Shilah James from Wynnebrook
Elementary School spoke to Luncheon
guests about what she has learned
through CCE in her
after-school programming. As she
related some of the creative writing
vocabulary words she learned to
protagonists and antagonists in the
Cat and the Hat, her mother praised
CCE and the way they were creatively
opening her daughter’s mind to a new
passion as a writer!
In
welcoming the crowd, Kenn Karakul
likened the afternoon’s weather to the
stormy education system. “Just like the
sun coming out today, CCE is such a
bright spot in the lives of so many Palm
Beach County students. The work we are
doing in arts integration is so
important. Students like Shilah are
finding new passions thanks to our
artists.”
The not-for-profit Center for Creative
Education uses the arts
to enrich and transform children’s
educational experience. The arts are
infused into classroom curriculum and
after-school settings to enhance
the teaching of traditional academic
subjects – improving each child’s
learning potential and academic
performance, increasing overall
enthusiasm about school and shaping more
productive, responsible community
members that exercise creative problem
solving throughout life. CCE’s newest
program, Project GROW focuses on
teaching students artful and hands-on
ways to have a positive and healthy body
and mind.
“By highlighting Project GROW
programming, guests were able to see and
do what our teaching artists are doing
everyday with the children in Palm Beach
County schools,” said Tom Pilecki, CCE
executive director. “The afternoon
turned out to be beautiful and we were
grateful to have so many supportive
friends with us. The children who spoke
really showed guests what CCE is all
about!”
Grand sponsor for the Luncheon was
Pauline Pitt. Platinum sponsor was
Paula and Bob Butler. Benefactor
Sponsors were Eric and Fuzzy Billings;
Gina Borman; Michael and Barbara Crimi;
Joyce Erato; Emila Fanjul; Gentlemen of
the Garden; Merle Goldsdtein; Cheryl
Gowdy; Jerre Gowdy; Kate Gubelmann;
Vicki Halmos; Mark Janecki; Kenn Karakul
and Jim Held; Jim and Irene Karp; Neil
and Luiza Kozokoff; Anita and Sam
Michaels; Brad and Pam Miller; Gina
Mortara; Lucy Musso; Kit Pannill; E.
Burke Ross, Jr.; Percy Steinhart and US
Trust.
The CCE Spring Luncheon committee
members included:
Marianne “Fuzzy” Billings, Paula Butler,
Cheryl Gowdy, Sara Groff,
Vicki Kellogg, Margaret Luce, Gina
Mortara, Danielle Ortiz, Debbie Pucillo,
Diann Scaravilli, Mary Stanton, Sonja
Stevens, Frances Webster, Elizabeth
Wetherell, along with CCE board host
committee Vicki Halmos, Margie Larkin
and Pam Miller.
For information on the Center for
Creative Education programming or
upcoming events including Little Pink
Dress “Ultimate Girls Night Out” to
Benefit the Center for Creative
Education on May 3rd, please
call (561) 805-9927, or visit
www.cceflorida.org.