(PALM BEACH, Fla.) – The stars were shining at The Mar-a-Lago Club recently as more than 360 people gathered for the seventh annual Caron “After Dark” Gala. Comedian, Richard Lewis headlined entertainment and NFL great, Joe Theismann was the featured speaker and emcee for the evening benefiting addiction recovery at Caron Renaissance.

Starting with a poolside reception before entering the main ballroom, guests were treated to an evening full of laughter, smiles and entertainment. Celebrating five years of sobriety, Caron alumni and Miss USA 2006 Tara Conner performed with her band Jamestown Avenue after being congratulated by the evening’s honorary chairman, Donald Trump for her great accomplishment. Honoree Patrick Rooney received the 2012 Richard J. Caron Award of Excellence Award.

"The evening was magnificent with memorable performances by Richard Lewis and Tara Conner’s Jamestown Avenue band, along with Joe Theismann’s moving keynote,” said Petra Levin, Caron Gala Chairman. “We had a fun event and it provided a platform to get people talking about the disease of addiction, so the healing process can begin. There shouldn’t be a stigma associated with addiction. Rather, like other diseases, treatment is one of the most effective answers and this event raises critical dollars for treatment scholarships at Caron."

The Caron Treatment Centers network is one of the finest nationally recognized non-profit drug and alcohol treatment centers in the country, offering residential treatment and outpatient programs for adults and adolescents, as well as families affected by the disease of addiction. Caron Renaissance’s state-of-the-art treatment campus in Boca Raton features groundbreaking on-site family programs, and is pioneering new advances in the field of addiction treatment. Funds raised from the annual Caron Gala are earmarked for the Lifesaver Scholarship Fund at Caron, offering scholarships for well-deserving patients and their families seeking treatment they otherwise could not afford.

Caron Gala Chairman, Petra Levin was joined by Junior Chairmen, Martha and Robert DeForest for the 2012 event.

Corporate sponsor for the 2012 Caron Gala was Tiffany & Co.; leadership sponsors were Gold Coast Beverage Distributors, Inc. and Palm Beach Kennel Club; patron sponsor was Dex Imaging and benefactor sponsors were Hanley Family Foundation and International Autos, Inc. Media sponsor was Palm Beach Illustrated.