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West Palm
Beach, FL
– The Venetian room at The Breakers filled as friends,
supporters and friends of friends arrived for an enchanting
celebration amidst the white hinterland shell themed décor
to honor and pay tribute to Opportunity, Inc., Early
Learning Center as it culminated its 75th Anniversary season
celebration of Community Service on Friday, March 28th,
2014. Themed “bringing generations together by honoring the
past and creating the future” captured the spirit of the
evening which began with a cocktail hour featuring a
Historical Exhibit designed by Bruce Stuka of the original
shell pieces designed and built by the early founders, a
business built in 1939 to create income for at risk families
in the community. Four hundred and thirty of Palm Beaches’
elite joined Opportunity with a celebratory champagne toast
during a “call to action” which raised $176,000.00 for the
programs and children at Opportunity. “We filled the room”
says chair-woman Millie Dayton with good cheer and an
evening of fun, friendship, friend-raising and dancing with
The Soul Survivors band. Our guests rated the event “the
best party” of the season. “Such a spectacular evening and
I am so proud to be a part of this great organization”, said
Meredith Michener, Grand Benefactor for the evening. A
naming in the James Patterson Middle School Series and one
year annual membership certificate created the donor
competition needed to make the “call to action” such a
success.
Emcee for the evening was
Steve Weagle who led the most successful call to action.
The
event was chaired by Tara Gronberg, Millie Dayton and
Emanuela Marcello. “This is a special occasion and we are
proud to be associated with this great organization, a true
center of excellence” was echoed by Tara Gronberg & Emanuela
Marcello. Honorary Chair was Carole Lembo. Meredith
Michener was the Grand Benefactor. The 75th
Anniversary Gala corporate sponsors were PNC Bank, The
Breakers, Atlantic Trust, Braman BMW, Florida Community
Bank, Fox Rothschild, LLC, Wells Fargo and TD Bank.
Opportunity, Inc. serves low income, working families with
programs designed to “break the cycle” of poverty through a
“Five Star” Early Childhood Education at the Mary Alice
Fortin Center in Westgate. Our mission is to empower
children of low income, working families to achieve future
academic and life success by providing the best early
childhood educational programming and support services, and
by assisting their families with strategies to achieve
self-sufficiency. Accredited by the National Accreditation
Commission, recognized as a Five Star Gold Seal School of
Excellence by the Florida Department of Children and
Families, the Opportunity Early Childhood Center programs
are made possible through the generosity of donors and
foundations who believe in the spirit of hope.
The Mayor of the City of
Riviera Beach, Thomas Masters, sign
a proclamation announcing March 28th, 2014
as Opportunity, Inc. day, in commemoration of the 75th
Anniversary of Opportunity, Inc. and of the organizational
contribution to the community which started in Riviera Beach
in 1939. The cities of Palm Beach and West Palm Beach also
joined Opportunity, Inc. in celebrating this important
milestone, and the legacy of dedication to serving those
at-risk. Opportunity, Inc. day was proclaimed by the Town
of Palm Beach on October 17th, 2013 and by The
Town of West Palm Beach on January 21, 2014. To view the
proclamations online, please visit
www.opportunitypbc.org.
The Board of Directors
thanks our friends, donors, benefactors and foundations for
their continued support and pledge to continue this great
tradition of quality while we consider expansion to serve
more and do more in the community.
For information on the gala, visit us at
www.opportunitypbc.org
or call us at
561-712-9221
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