(Palm Beach) – As the breeze rolled off the ocean, drums from a Junkanoo band rolled through a crowd of nearly 400 people at the Center for Creative Education’s Over the Big Top Goes Carnivále! The surprises kept on coming for guests during the fifth annual benefit event held in the beautiful gardens at the home of Tussi and John Kluge in Palm Beach.  Fire breathers,contortionists, samba dancers and a snake charmer greeted guests as they walked down the tiki lit path toward a colorfully decorated tent
for and evening of dinner, dancing and other carnival-inspired surprises.    

“This event really was over the top,” said Michael Perry, co-chair with Diana Perry and Tricia Quick.  “We had an incredible committee behind us along with CCE staff and generous sponsors who made this event such a success.”

            Tom Quick was auctioneer for the live auction that had guests bidding for a weekend getaway to New York to see Jimmy Buffet in concert, as well as a weekend stay at Pine Creek
Sporting Club.

            “Everyone involved did a spectacular job creating a very memorable evening to benefit local school children through in-
and after-school programming with our artists,” said Tom Pilecki, CCE Executive Director.  “We even incorporated some colorful masks made by students at Wynnebrook Elementary School into the décor.”

            Over the Big Top committee members include honorary chairmen Susie Dwinell, Ross Meltzer, Alex Snyder and Keith Williams and members Nicole and Dave Atkinson, Beth Beattie, Reid Boren, Jackie and Beau Breckenridge, Jane and Gordon Brown, Diane Buhler, Celeste and John Cassidy, Maura and Eric Christu, Jan Coniglio Cook, Barbara and Michael Crimi, Aime Dunstan, Julia Duresky, Laura Evans, Nadine and David Fite, Jillian and Mat Forrest, Caroline and Tom Forrest, Lou Lou and Jamie Gordon, Nicole and Jason Guari, Jim Held, Kenn Karakul, Christine and Desmond Keogh, Carol and Tom Kirchhoff, Dana and Jessica Koch, Andrea and Brian Kosoy, Bill Kopp, Karyn and Kevin Lamb, Dianne and Mark LaRoe, Helene and Matt Lorentzen, Mia and Bob Matthews, Jessica and Shawn McGruder, Ali Mendia, Pam and Brad Miller, Sarah and Brian Miller, Stephen Mooney, Nicole and Ryan Munder, Mario Nievera, Colleen Orrico, Ruby Patterson, Chrissy Poorman, Kourtney Pulitzer, Chad Renfro, John Ripley, Linda Soper, Danielle and Craig Storch, Jessica and Clay Surovek, Rena Toppe, Betsy and Wally Turner, Sabra Van Der Poel, Scott Velozo, Michele Vogel, and Penny Williams.

Proceeds from Over the Big Top events will benefit programs for the Center for Creative Education, a not-for-profit educational organization that supports partnerships among
schools, arts and cultural organizations, artists, community-based organizations, and human service providers.  CCE integrates the arts into academic curriculum and after school activities in
Palm Beach County. 

            Sponsors for Over the Big Top Goes Carnivále include Atlantico Rum; Champion Tours and Events; John C. Cassidy Air Conditioning; Laura Evans; Fite Shavell & Associates; Tim Givens Building, Inc.; Melanie and Chris Hill Kofski Antiques; Madeleine Rudin Johnson & W. Bruce Johnson; Irene and James Karp; David G. Lambert Foundation; Cherie and Jack Lucks; Mario Nievera Designs, Inc.; Margaritaville Holdings; Jim & Sharon Mattei and
The Mattei Foundation; The Mitchell & Hilary Morgan Family Foundation; MPerry Design, Inc; Murray & Guari Trial Attorneys PL; Palm Beach Society Magazine; PNC; Tricia Quick; Regency Party Rentals; Saks Palm Beach Gardens; Stanton Family Foundation; Tropical Pest Management; Scott Velozo Graphics; Very Important Paws; and Wittmann Building Corporation.