(HOBE SOUND, FL) No
ball rooms. No black ties. No printing costs for
thousands of invitations. No receiving lines. No
dance floors and no auctions. Jupiter Island
residents Eddy and John Taylor devised a new benefit
concept to raise funds for the children at Easter
Seals, and they kicked off the series they called
“Dinner with Friends” for 12 special benefactors in
their home on Saturday, November 21.
The Taylors’ idea for
the “Dinner with Friends” series was for a generous
host to open their home for a dinner party with
their close friends. The host underwrites the cost
of the evening, and guests are made aware that their
benefit “ticket” is a check for the children at
Easter Seals.
“Over the last 12
years, John and I have supported the special
children at the Easter Seals Igoe-Amar Child
Development Center in West Palm Beach,” said
chairwoman Eddy Taylor. “We are very lucky to have
been blessed with two beautiful and healthy
daughters. It has been our personal mission to give
back to the children at Easter Seals who live with
challenges such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome,
autism and other developmental delays. We’re
finding that our guests attending our kick off for
the ‘Dinner with Friends’ series love the idea that
their funds are directly benefiting these children.
And they love the idea of a simplified dinner in
someone’s home. Rather than another Gala benefit to
add to their social season, this benefit becomes
personal and intimate. Our kick off event was a
tremendous success!”
The Taylors raised over
$90,000 as a result of their recent dinner which
included such guests as Kim and Ray Celedinas, Julie
and Amin Khoury, Betsy and James Meany of Lydian
Bank & Trust, Brett Price, Thomas C. Quick, and
Diane and John Trimper. Future dinners are already
scheduled by other hosts, such as David Lambert of
Palm Beach, and corporate benefactors like Northern
Trust Bank, Braman Motorcars Palm Beach and the
Gardens Mall, as well as private donors including
Randi and John Bitove, Sabina and Peter Cowie, Diana
and E. Llwyd Ecclestone, Marianne and Harvey P.
Gold, Monika and John Preston, Missy and Dan Reedy,
Mary and Dan Stanton, Amanda and Charles
Schumacher, have signed on to support the series.
“Already we’re finding
hosts and even benefactors who are completely
embracing this brilliant and novel idea,” said Marlo
Massey, Vice President of Development for the West
Palm Beach based Center for children of all needs.
“They are excited to share their contagious
enthusiasm for Easter Seals with friends in the
comfort of their own home or chosen location. We’ve
had benefactors offer to host intimate dinner
parties like John and Eddy, as well as backyard
barbecues and even a select VIP dinner at the
Gardens Mall. The idea is incredibly popular, and
we are grateful for Eddy and John’s creative passion
on behalf of our students!”
Easter Seals Igoe-Amar
Child Development Center is the area’s only
full-time center for children of ALL abilities.
Easter Seals helps children with disabling
conditions due to birth, disease, accident or injury
through pediatric speech, physical, occupational and
behavioral therapies made available in a preschool
setting. These services help prepare children for
success in school while affording parents an
opportunity to continue their careers or education.
Located at 213 S.
Congress Avenue, the Igoe-Amar Center for Easter
Seals Florida accommodates 100 children in the
23,000 square foot center. It has eight classrooms,
four therapy rooms, outdoor play areas, a conference
room and administrative offices. The Igoe-Amar
Center is also home to the county's first Boundless
Playground, a recreation area structured for
children with special needs.
To inquire about
hosting a “Dinner with Friends” to benefit the
children at Easter Seals, please reach Massey at
561.471.1688, ext. 124. To learn more about the
program offerings at Easter Seals or other ways to
benefit the Center’s students, please visit
www.fl.easterseals.com
or call Massey to inquire about a tour.