PALM
BEACH –
While
Bill
O’Reilly
wowed
guests
at
Mar-a-Lago
recently
with a
compelling
and
provocative
keynote
address,
it was
the
heartfelt
thank
you from
It
Happened
to Alexa
Foundation
founders,
Tom,
Stacey
and
Alexa
Branchini,
which
left the
crowd of
nearly
400
wiping
tears
from
their
eyes.
The
Branchinis
thanked
supporters
of the
Foundation’s
second
annual
benefit
event
and
briefly
shared
the
story of
what
happened
to their
daughter,
Alexa.
The Boca
Raton
couple
founded
It
Happened
to Alexa
in
2003
after
their
daughter
was
assaulted
and
raped as
a
freshman
during
only her
second
week at
college.
“Tonight’s
activities
assist
our
Foundation’s
goal of
ensuring
that
sexual
predators
are
taken
off the
streets,”
said Tom
Branchini.
“We are
incredibly
grateful
the
event’s
chairman,
Judith
Grubman,
for her
tremendous
leadership,
and to
all of
you for
the
funds
raised
at
tonight’s
event.
You are
helping
us to
help so
many
other
families
in a
desperate
time of
need.”
Mrs.
Grubman
organized
the
event
and
served
as the
evening’s
emcee --
–
keeping
the mood
in
Mar-a-Lago’s
ballroom
relaxed
with fun
introductions
of
speakers
including
Fox
commentator
and
Alexa
board
member
Wendy
Murphy;
Donald
J.
Trump,
who
introduced
Bill
O’Reilly,
and Dick
Robinson,
who
served
as the
event’s
live
auctioneer.
In
addition,
Mrs.
Grubman
dedicated
the
evening
to the
event’s
first
chairman,
Cathleen
McFarlane
Ross.
Serving
as
national
honorary
chairman
were
Melania
and.
Donald
J.
Trump,
with
grand
benefactors
Patrick
Park and
Nathalie
Fernandez
serving
as
honorary
committee
members.
Executive
committee
members
included
Marie
Hope
Davis,
Renee
Morrison
and Ruby
Rinker.
The
event’s
other
major
benefactors
included
O’Reilly
and
Grubman
in
addition
to A.R.T.
Fine
Jewelry’s
Abby
Patini,
Nancy
and
Bill
Rollnick,
Deborah
and
Edward
Robinson,
Paula
and Bob
Butler,
The
Heath
Evans
Foundation,
the
Kazma
family,
Diana
and
Llwyd
Ecclestone,
Carlos
and
Renee
Morrison,
Bill
Walde,
Mary
Campbell
Cordier,
and Jan
and Chip
Malley.
Other
guests
included
Sir
Walter
Ross,
Beth and
Heath
Evans,
Maggie
and
Nicholas
Kirkbride,
Carol
and Jim
Manning,
Betsy
and
Wally
Turner,
Robin
and
Richard
Bernstein,
Kathryn
and Leo
Vecellio,
Frances
Scaife,
Mary
Frances,
Sharon
Ruggirello,
Colleen
Bain and
Henry
Fong.
IHTA is
the only
foundation
of its
kind in
the
United
States,
providing
direct
financial
assistance
to rape
victims’
families
for
travel-related
expenses
during
the
litigation
process.
After
their
daughter’s
long and
traumatic
trial
ended,
the
Branchinis
realized
that
many
families
in
similar
circumstances
would
not have
the
finances
to
support
the
travel
and
lodging
costs
incurred
in an
out-of-town
trial.
They
didn’t
want a
lack of
funds to
prevent
any rape
victim
from
prosecuting
her (or
his)
attacker.