As
Grammy award winner Jon Secada heated up the Mar-a-Lago stage at the
fifth annual Caron Renaissance Gala on February 26, 2010 , benefit chairman Petra
Levin answered
the night’s $1 million question, “Who was the surprise
guest in the back of the ballroom’s intimate candle-lit setting?”
“Stewart
Rahr is a friend of our honorary chairman, Donald
Trump,” said
Levin as she stopped Secada’s concert to let guests know the
surprise good news. “A guest at Mar-a-Lago, he happened on our
concert fundraiser and wanted to support our cause. He just donated
$1 and then $300,000 more, to put our funds raised tonight for scholarships
to Caron Renaissance at just over $1 million!”
The surprise
announcement was just one of the evening’s highlights as guests
gathered to celebrate the gala’s fifth anniversary and to raise
dollars for the Lifesaver Scholarship Fund at Boca Raton-based Caron
Renaissance. These funds provide scholarships to those in need of addiction
treatment who would otherwise not have the opportunity to benefit from
the advanced programming Caron provides.
The special evening started
with a poolside cocktail reception and dinner under crystal clear,
blue skies. The star-lit pool was centered by a magnificent floral
Gala logo. The event’s beautiful blue theme was echoed throughout
-- and even inspired the attire for the Gala’s guests.
Poolside,
guests could be found purchasing chances to win the gold Panther bangle
courtesy of Cartier Palm Beach or bidding on silent auction items graciously
donated by Lamborghini, Zac Posen, Lana Marks, David Drebin photography,
Old Homestead and Chef Dino Gatto from Rao’s.
Once guests moved
into Mar-a-Lago’s grand ballroom for the concert, they were welcomed
by Caron CEO Doug Tieman and event chairman, Petra Levin. Tieman publicly
honored Caron Renaissance executive director Sid
Goodman for his 20-year
commitment to excellence at the South Florida facility. He also presented
awards to John Terracino for Cartier‘s five-year commitment to
Caron as Grand Benefactor of the event. Honorary chairman, Donald
Trump,
and Gala chairman, Petra Levin, were also honored for their five-year
commitment.
In addition to Trump and Levin, the 2010 Caron Renaissance
Gala event chairs included junior chairman Tiffany
Marks, corporate
chairman Robert DeForest and leadership chairman Leigh
Wagner Smith.
Gala committee members included Adam Alpert, Sevan
Arslanian, Asia Baker, Austin Bryan, Francesca Campbell, Daniela Dadurian,
Randie Dalia, Yasmin Dovas, Daniel F. Dresbach, Johanna Dunn, Annie
Falk, Andres Fanjul, Samantha Fiume, Melissa Flax, Greg Gelinas, Barbara
Gilbert, Jaime Gleicher, Michael Idy, Simon Isaacs, Paulette Koch,
Chloe Loh, Christina MacFarland, Benjamin MacFarland III, Lana Marks,
Shelley Menin, Nicole Munder, Zak Odhwani, Jane Oster, Mark Palermo,
Elizabeth Patipa, Alex Petersmarck, Brian Popper, Allison Reckson,
Julie Rudolph, Jana Scarpa, Jessie Schuster, Brad Sorte, John Terracino,
Tara Tobin, Denise Vasi, Julianne Wainstein, Michael Wainstein, Kingsley
Woolsworth, Eric P. Yorlano, Matthew Zimmerman and Samantha Zimmerman.
Sponsors
for the Gala were Grand Benefactor, Cartier Palm Beach; Fashion Title
Sponsor, Zac Posen; Leadership Sponsors Mr. & Mrs. Stephen Levin
and Leigh Wagner Smith; Patron Sponsors, Gold Coast Beverage Distributors
and Lamborghini Palm Beach; Benefactor Sponsors, Ken Langone, Merrill
Lynch Global Wealth Management, James Millar and Wachovia Commercial
division, a Wells Fargo Company along with Wells Fargo Private Bank
and Media Sponsor, Palm Beach Illustrated.
