HANLEY CENTER FOUNDATION COMMITTEE GATHERS TO PLAN 20th ANNUAL FAMILY PICNIC EVENT
February 22 benefit to raise funds for Foundation’s substance abuse prevention efforts in local schools
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) Committee members for Hanley Center Foundation’s 20th Annual Family Picnic gathered for a lunch meeting recently at the law offices of Lewis, Longman & Walker, P.A. to finalize plans for the upcoming family-friendly event. Scheduled for Sunday, February 22, 2015 at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, the benefit raises awareness and funds for Hanley Center Foundation’s research-based prevention programs in local public and private schools.
Led by chairmen Val Perez and Denise Groo; co-chairmen Michelle and Bob Diffenderfer, and Dena and Bill Foman; honorary chairmen Dorothy and Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, and honorary media chairwomen Roxanne Stein and Deena Lang, this year’s committee includes the following members: Teri Barbera, Jack Barrett, Krista Basore, CJ and Turner Benoit, Amy and Ryan Bridger, Sally D. Chester, R.N.; Debbie and Bob Dunkin, Susie Dwinell, Laura Gallo, Donna and Bob Goldfarb, Karen Holloway, Suzanne and Michael Holmes, Kai Li Fouts and Chris Jette, Lauren and Daniel Lieberman, Celeste Lioce and Karyn & Justin Cartlidge, Liz Mathewson, Fran Marcone and Jennifer Marcone, Michelle and John McGovern, Mary Katherine Morales, Alovarson Odige, Jillian Percella, Michele Poole, Rick Reikenis, John Riordan, Lisa and Dan Thomas, and Karen Vaughn.
“When we hear statistics like ‘children and teens who begin drinking before age 15 are four times more likely to become alcohol addicted than those who do not drink before age 21,’ you want to know that our community is doing everything it can to prevent those statistics and educate our youth about substance abuse,” said Val Perez, Family Picnic chairman. “Hanley Center Foundation does an incredible job of educating our community and raising awareness about the effects of addiction. Events like the Family Picnic get people talking about substance abuse, and the more people are talking, the better chance we have at breaking down the stigma that still comes with the disease of addiction.”
Generous sponsors of the Family Picnic include: Hanley Family Foundation, Sunny and Abe Rosenberg Foundation, Florida Power & Light Company, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office, McLaughlin & Stern, PNC Wealth Management, Sarah Cortvriend, Esq., Lewis Longman & Walker, P.A., TD Bank, Val Perez & Denise Groo, Reikenis & Associates, LLC, LILA PHOTO, Downtown at the Gardens & Kendall Rumsey, Slatkow & Husak Public Relations, Marie & Ted Deckert, Suzanne & Michael Holmes, Barbara Suflas Noble, The First Tee of the Palm Beaches-Jack Barrett/Development Director, Anderson, Azeredo & Lioce, CPAs, Cindy & Bob Emmett, The Law Offices of Scott Young, P.A., and Auction Ladies. Media Sponsors include: Palm Beach Illustrated, Sunny 107.9FM and WPTV NewsChannel 5.
“At Hanley Center Foundation we are proud to work with local public and private schools to educate and prevent substance abuse,” said Dr. Rachel Docekal, Hanley Center Foundation CEO. “Our teams of experts understand the importance of education and through our research-based prevention programming, we have helped many children and adults better understand drug and alcohol abuse. We are so thankful to our Family Picnic leadership and sponsors for their hard work and donations creating another successful event. We hope families will see the Picnic event as the perfect opportunity to spend a really fun day together and reinforce that family time is time well spent, all while benefiting an important cause.”
Family focused in its activities, the Hanley Center Foundation Family Picnic includes a kids-only committee as well. Committee members include: Juliet and James Basore, Phoebe Benoit, Landon Branch and Noah LoFaso, Annabel and George Bridger, Aiden Cartlidge, Hope and Lily Diffenderfer, Catherine and Cooper Dunkin, Clayton Gause, Walter, Jackson and Xavier Foman, Lydia Jade Horgan, Cerys, Kale and Cade Jette, Zachary and Zoe Lieberman, Emilia and Victoria McGovern, Mia Morales, Madeline Perez, Katie, Kelly and Jack Riordan, Ellison Stewart, and Jack and Whitney Thomas.
For more information about the Hanley Family Picnic or Hanley prevention programming, please visit www.hanleycenterfoundation.org Sponsorships for the event are still available. Tickets are $195 for adults (18 and over), $50 per child (4-17 years of age), and children 3 and under are free. If you wish to purchase tickets or reserve a table, please contact Hanley Center Foundation’s Special Events Team at events@hanleycenterfoundation.org or (561) 841-1162.