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Palm Beach, FL (February 23, 2017) – With
a colorful theme and line-up to
keep with the vibrant palette of the Everglades, the 12th Annual
ForEverglades Benefit took place on Saturday, February
18th at
The Breakers Palm Beach. The sold-out event featured
television journalist and co-host of CBS This Morning
Norah O’Donnell alongside actor/comedian Tom Papa,
award-winning conservation photographer Mac Stone and
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Roger Daltrey of The
Who.
The evening commenced with cocktails for
the colorful clad guests who were encouraged to wear
clothing fitting of the Color
Me In theme,
followed by a sit down dinner in the Ponce de Leon
Ballroom where long tables were set with festive décor.
Once seated, The Everglades Foundation Board Chairman
Marshall Field V spoke about the current legislation to
expedite a project to send Lake Okeechobee water south,
where it can be cleaned and sent to the Everglades and
Florida Bay, rather than destroying Florida’s coasts by
sending it east and west.
After dinner, actor and comedian Tom Papa
entertained the crowd with comedic commentary that lit
up the room. Mac Stone gave guests a riveting tour of
the Everglades through his camera lens while relaying
his experiences of living and working in the Everglades
watershed that ended with a standing ovation for the
crowd of over 800 Foundation supporters.
Following Stone, Board of Directors
member and the Foundation’s co-founder Paul Tudor Jones
and CEO Eric Eikenberg took to the stage and praised
state legislators who have backed the concept of
building a southern reservoir. Together Jones and
Eikenberg led a call-to-action mission by encouraging
guests to contact Florida Governor Rick Scott and
legislators to encourage them to fight for this
reservoir.
Jones went on to say, “We hold a red,
white and blue American treasure in our hands. This is
not a red or blue issue. This is a unifying issue and a
rally cry to each and every one of us. It is the water
supply for over 8 million Floridians and millions of
tourists. It is an economic engine of Florida and the
home of 77 threatened or endangered species.”
Jones then welcomed Miss Florida to the
stage to explain how to pledge on mobile devices, and
lead the call to action by texting the word FIGHT to
40649. Rounding out the night, ForEverglades Chair Mike
Ramos announced musical headliner Roger Daltrey who took
the state with his band singing a full concert list of
songs, featuring countless top hits including "My
Generation”, “Pinball Wizard,” and “Won’t Get Fooled
Again.” The crowd then went wild as Daltrey announced a
surprise visit from Jimmy Buffett, where together they
sang a rendition of the classic “Stand By Me.”
Chairs for the 12th Annual ForEverglades
Benefit include Mary Barley, Claudia and Carlos de la
Cruz, Jr., Fiona and Stanley Druckenmiller, Eva and
Glenn Dubin, Jamee and Marshall Field V, Béryl Lacoste
Hamilton and Rex Hamilton, Fenia and Carl Hiaasen, Sonia
and Paul Tudor Jones II, Eaddo and Peter Kiernan, Elaine
and Ken Langone, Kathy and Paul Leone, Michele Henry and
Garrison duP. Lickle, Mary Morse, Thalia and Tommy
Mottola, Barbara and Jack Nicklaus, Ashley and Mike
Ramos, Lia Reed and Tony Bohannon, Alita and Nathaniel
Reed, Diana Barrett and Robert Vila, Toni and Andrew
Wilshire and Beau Wrigley.
Co-Chairs include: Brooks Bishop, Susan
and Mark F. Dalton, Jennifer and Joseph Duke, Tucker
Frederickson, Mercedes and Steve Gotwald, Judy and John
Keller, Judy and Jarett Kling, Alice and Lorne Michaels,
and Bill Davenport and Bruce Wiltsie and Committee
members include: Nancy and David Auth, Kane Baker,
Michele Borislow, Katie Carpenter, Revell Carpenter
Schulte, Dashiell Carpenter Schulte, Chris Chase, Heidi
Cox, Syndey Davis, Mia Celano and Skip Dunn, Ellin Goetz
and Michael Watkins, Nancy Goodes, Gina and Scott
Gordon, Danielle H. Moore, Carrie and Paul Hanna, C.
Wolcott Henry, Debbie and Nick Iarossi, Sasha Lickle,
Bobbie Lindsay and Doug Buck, Minnie and Kevin McCluskey,
Lyn and Bob Parks, Sara Groff and Piper Quinn, Brandon
A.S. Ross, Lauriston and Richard Segerson, Linda and
Jared Soper, Susie and Stanley Trotman, Peter
Vasconcelos, Kristen and Chris Vila, Jodi and Rick
Wentley, and Paula and Paul Wittmann.
The ForEverglades Benefit raises funds
annually to support scientifically sound, achievable
solutions to restore and protect the fragile Everglades
ecosystem that provides fresh water for nearly 8 million
Floridians and millions of visitors. The Everglades
Foundation board of directors supports all of the
Foundation’s administrative and fundraising expenses,
allowing 100 percent of the funds raised at the benefit
to directly support these programs
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