Benefit on Nov 14th at Boca West County Club to help those suffering from substance use disorders
(Boca Raton, Fla.) – Hanley Foundation, the nonprofit statewide leader in adolescent substance use prevention and education, is expanding into South Palm Beach County with the inaugural Hanley Foundation Brice Makris Memorial Picnic on November 14, 2021, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Boca West Country Club. Hanley Foundation Board Member and Boca Raton resident John Makris and his wife Michelle will chair the event that honors their son, Brice Makris, who passed away in March 2020 to an accidental Fentanyl overdose.
The benefit will include a picnic-style luncheon, family activities, entertainment, a silent auction and a live auction by renowned auctioneer Neil Saffer. All proceeds from the Picnic will go toward Hanley Foundation’s Brice Makris Endowment Fund, which provides critical recovery scholarships.
“It’s staggering that more than 9.5 million counterfeit pills often containing deadly doses of Fentanyl were confiscated so far this year, which is more than the last two years combined,” said John Makris. “When Brice realized he had a problem and asked for our help for his addiction, he went through a local treatment program and then went to a sober home. Sadly, it just took one time of using drugs laced with Fentanyl for us to lose him more than a year ago. Before his death, Brice’s goal was to save 100 men and women from the disease of addiction. Michelle and I have now made his goal our mission.”
Hanley Foundation envisions a world free of addiction, leading the way as the largest provider of educational programs that prevent underage drinking in the State of Florida. In addition to offering treatment scholarships to those in need and facilitating trainings to identify the signs of substance misuse, the Foundation works to reduce stigma and change policy through its advocacy efforts. The Foundation’s mission is to eliminate addiction through prevention, advocacy, treatment, and recovery support.
“We are grateful to John and Michelle Makris for chairing this event to help raise funds and awareness for Hanley Foundation, and specifically for critical recovery scholarships for those who can’t afford quality treatment,” said Jan Cairnes, CEO for Hanley Foundation. “To underscore the Foundation’s belief that ‘family time is time well spent,” we have had the West Palm Beach Family Picnic for more than 25 years, and we hope this south county event will bring families together in the same way. There are thousands of individuals suffering from substance use disorders right here in our community. Please join us on November 14 as we honor Brice’s memory and his mission to reach more people in our community who need help.”
Committee members include Mark Astor, Marcy Barrick, Stephanie Eisner, Betsy Gershon, Samantha Goodman, Amy and Jon Gottlieb, Liz Kirshner, Lisa McMillan, Sharon Michael, Alisa Oleck, Alan Ponce, Neil and Trisha Saffer, Lisa Schultz, Jonathan Sherry and Audra Simovitch.
MDVIP Foundation is the corporate sponsor for the Hanley Foundation Brice Makris Memorial Picnic. Additional sponsors for the event include Altman, Friedberg, & Wolfman, PLLC; Lesser, Lesser, Landy & Smith, PLLC; Beth and David Ettinger; Drug and Alcohol Attorneys; GrayRobinson, P.A.; Rewards Magazine; Suncap Technology, Inc.; Sylvan Financial Advisors; Horizon Care Services; Andrea Raisfeld Locations; Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Navre; Dr. and Mrs. Richard Papantonio; Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lowenfish; Shavell & Company, P.A.; and media sponsor Boca Magazine.
Tickets for the benefit are $125 for adults (ages 13 and over), $50 per child (ages 4-12), and free for children (ages 3 and under). For more information or to purchase tickets, contact Amy Gottlieb at 561-542-1233. For more information on Hanley Foundation or to donate, please visit hanleyfoundation.org.