Kretzer Piano Music Foundation
Raises More Than $60,000 for Local Charities at 3rd Annual PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE
18 Talented Doctors Wowed the Sell-Out Crowd at Benefit for Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches,
Faith’s Place & Kretzer Piano Music Foundation
(West Palm Beach, FL – August 25, 2014) The Kretzer Piano Music Foundation, sponsor of last fall’s hugely successful “Keys to the Cities” campaign (painted pianos), has announced that the recent 3rd annual PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE (PTS) sold-out The Harriet Himmel Theater in West Palm Beach, raising more than $60,000 for three local nonprofit organizations.
Eighteen talented doctors and other performers wowed the crowd at the music-packed fundraiser that was emceed by Dr. Gordon Johnson a retired Pathologist and former Chief of Staff of Wellington Regional Medical Center where he presently is serving on the Board, and Dr. Maureen Whelihan, who is affiliated with Elite GYN Care of the Palm Beaches and Wellington Regional Medical Center. Dr. Johnson also performed with his wife Dr. Linda Johnson and violinist son Gareth Johnson, who recently toured with Joshua Bell.
Among the show’s many highlights were the opera-singing veterinarian Dr. Xavier Garcia, owner of the El Cid Animal Clinic in West Palm Beach; classical guitarist Dr. Kenneth Fuquay, who is affiliated with the Pulmonology Departments at both the Jupiter Medical Center and the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; singer Dr. Andrew Moffitt, an Internist with privileges at both the Jupiter Medical Center and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; classical pianist Dr. Peggy Hunter, who is associated with both PBC Dermatology and the JFK Medical Center; Flamenco dancers Dr. Lourdes Nieves, a Pediatrician with Foundcare, and Dr. Sonia Nunez, an Adult Neurologist associated with Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, and ballroom dancers Dr. Lyda Rodriquez, a Board Certified Pediatrician with privileges at Jupiter Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center and her partner, international Dancing Champion Alex Foraponov.
Audience favorites included comedian Dr. Richard Wayne, an Anesthesiologist with Comprehensive Pain Management and the West Palm Hospital; pop pianist Dr. Richard Weiner, an Orthopedic Surgeon affiliated with Orthopedic Care Specialists, St. Mary’s Medical Center and the Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center; and the always popular “Doctors Band” with Dr. John Fernandez, who has privileges in Emergency Medicine at Sebastian River Medical Center; flautist and singer Dr. Robin Sykes, a Plastic Surgeon at both Jupiter Plastic Surgery and the Jupiter Medical Center; bass guitarist Dr. Thomas Rowe, who is in General Surgery at Jupiter Medical Center; Dr. Robin Shecter, Dermatology Residency Director at West Palm Hospital and on staff at Wellington Regional Medical Center; and drummer Dr. Jack Zeltzer, a Vascular Surgeon associated with Palm Beach Surgical Associates, Palms West Hospital, Wellington Regional Medical Center and JFK Medical Center, and past president of the Palm Beach County Medical Society.
Also performing were Dr. Robin Arrigo, a concert pianist who earned a Doctorate of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami; Micailah Lockhart, vocalist from Faith’s Place and the first place winner in Junior Achievement’s “Watch a Rising Star” competition; pianist and “Kretzer Kid” Lylybell Zhou, and the incredibly rousing Drum Line and Steel Drummers from Faith’s Place.
The more than $60,000 raised at the 3rd annual PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE will benefit three valuable local nonprofit organizations:
+ Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches is dedicated to restoring families in crisis to stability and self-sufficiency by providing access to all-encompassing services to families and their children. (www.adoptafamilypbc.org)
+ Faith’s Place Center for Education in Pleasant City prepares young minds for the future by providing educational services in the form of preschool, tutorials, extended care and college prep programs. (www.faithsplacecenter.org)
+ Kretzer Piano Music Foundation provides performance opportunities for young musicians by sponsoring music events and aid/scholarships for music instruction to children from low-income families. (www.kretzerpiano.com/KPMF)
“The PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE is part of Kretzer Piano’s ongoing ‘Music for the Mind’ concert series benefitting children’s charities and music education,” said founder Kathi Kretzer. “Providing busy Doctors with an opportunity to share their talent in support of three fine charities brings joy to our hearts. We are grateful to our sponsors, volunteers and fans, but mostly to these talented physicians.”
“Best of all, collectively the three Showcases have raised more than $150,000 for underprivileged children in Palm Beach County,” she added.
Grand Sponsor of this year’s PHYSICIANS TALENT SHOWCASE was Kathryn Fox, with Palms West Hospital Medical Staff serving as Gold Sponsor and The Medical Staff of Wellington Regional Medical Center as Silver Sponsor. Additional sponsors included LKD Certified Public Accountants, Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center, Raymond James Financial Services, South Florida Radiation Oncology, Medical Staff of JFK Medical Center, UBS Financial Services and the L. Jules Arkin Family Foundation.