Women of Distinction Recipients

Sheila Rinker

Sheila Rinker’s community involvement and philanthropy reflect her interests in music, literature, arts, and athletics, as well as her compassion for others.

Palm Beach Atlantic University, which has enjoyed the longtime support of the Rinker family, is among the top causes on her list. The Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation, where she serves as vice president, took the lead in building the Vera Lea Rinker Hall, the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Athletic Campus, and the John and Sheila Rinker Athletic Complex. John and Sheila’s newest contribution of $20 million, along with the Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Foundation, Inc.’s $6 million to fund the six-story Marshall and Vera Lea Rinker Business Hall, will include a stock trading room, a lecture hall, and the LeMieux Center for Public Policy. Each building project Sheila participates in has an associated maintenance endowment, which is a topic she prioritizes.

In 2016, the University awarded Sheila and her husband of 42 years, John J. Rinker, honorary doctorate degrees, calling them “investors in generational change” for their focus on the well-being of Palm Beach Atlantic University students.

Sheila Rinker personally has lent her creative talents and energy, serving as a member of Palm Beach Atlantic’s Women of Distinction committee for 20 years, reflecting her passion for supporting student scholarships. In particular, her heartfelt desire to help female students struggling financially and in need of encouragement has made a measurable difference in their lives.

Sheila is active with several local charitable organizations and causes. For two decades, her volunteer work with the Palm Beach Habilitation Center has included serving on its board of directors as well as the organization’s annual Hab-a-Hearts event committee, which selected her as the “Queen of Hearts” in 2015. That award recognized her longtime commitment, outstanding support and contributions to the event that helped the Center reach its fundraising goal.

She served for four years on the Urban Youth Impact board of directors and briefly on the board of the YWCA of Palm Beach County. A supporter of law enforcement, she is the benefactor of a police department in a small Florida town, providing officers with zip-up bullet-proof vests, night-vision goggles, a fingerprinting identification computer, four fully loaded squad cars, and helping to build a practice firing range which she had them name, “The Philip Fields Training Center,” in honor of a fallen officer.  Sheila is also a patron for the H.O.W. (Hearing the Ovarian Cancer Whisper) Time is of the Essence annual luncheon. She has also been a supporter of Opportunity, Inc. for several years, supplying them with backpacks for the graduating class going into kindergarten.

Sheila attended Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, where she majored in commercial art (graphic arts). Her artistic talent was first noticed during high school when her artwork won third place in a national poster contest. She briefly worked in advertising.

These days, the couple travel extensively, with John sharing some of his photos as inspiration for Sheila’s art — painting in pastels. In addition, she was an avid golfer, winning the club championship at the Lake Toxaway (North Carolina) Country Club twice and scoring nine eagles, four of which were holes-in-one.

The couple, who have four children and six grandchildren, are members of Royal Poinciana Chapel.

Monika Preston

Monika Preston was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and grew up in Ontario, Canada, where she met her husband, John, at the University of Guelph. She moved to Palm Beach County in 1991.

Preston chaired the American Heart Association Ball in 2019 and has been a co-chair for several years. She has also co-chaired the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation Ball with her husband. Preston is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She has co-chaired the Kravis Center’s annual gala for a number of years. She previously served on the boards of The Benjamin School, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Center for Children in Crises and Stop Children’s Cancer.

She is a mother, wife and grandmother to five. She and her husband will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this summer. In addition to her civic responsibilities, she is thankful to be an equestrian.

Mary Fairbanks Freitas

Mary Fairbanks Freitas is a graduate of Florida State University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Media Communication. She worked in radio and television locally for WPTV NewsChannel 5 and radio stations WRMF and WJNO during and after completing her studies. Prior to that Mary attended high school at Rosarian Academy where she is a current parent and Board Member.

Along with her husband Mark, they are quite active supporting many charitable organizations and are highly respected for their philanthropy. Through the Mark and Mary Freitas Foundation, they support many causes affecting those in need in the community, especially children. Some of those they aid include: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Nat King Cole Generation Hope and Best Buddies International.

Mary is a trustee of The Town of Palm Beach United Way, The Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Rosarian Academy, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, and a Board Member of The Historical Society of Palm Beach County, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County and a Founding Member of the Palm Beach Police Foundation’s Council of 100 and a Founder Member of the Kravis Center for Performing Arts.

She has chaired numerous luncheons and galas for many organizations such as:

The Palm Beach Police Foundation Policeman’s Ball Chairwoman (2014 & 2015) Honorary Chairwoman (2016 & 2017) Saint Edward Church Christmas Dinner Dance Chairwoman (2012) Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Jingle Bell Ball Chairman (2011 & 2012) Rosarian Academy Rose Ball & Auction Co-Chair 2012, Co-Chair 2021 Town of Palm Beach United Way : Tocqueville Dinner Co-Chair 2018, General Campaign Chair for 2018/2019 Season, Chairman of the Board 2019/2020, Chairman of the Board 2020/2021, Chairman of the Board 2021/2022 South Florida Science Center & Aquarium Spring Gala Co-Chair (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020)

Cox Science Center & Aquarium Annual Gala Honorary Chair (2023) Historical Society Of Palm Beach County Archival Evening Co-Chair (2015, 2017, 2018 2019), Executive Committeee 2022 Nat King Cole Generation Hope Chaired and Hosted Fundraiser March 2020 Best Buddies International Palm Beach Gala Co-Chairwoman (2009, 2011, 2016) Children’s Home Society Ultimate Dinner Party Host (2009,2010,2011,2012,2013, 2014) Center for Family Services “Old Bags Luncheon” Co-Chair (2008) Honorary Chair (2009,2010,2013) Johns Hopkins A Woman’s Journey Co-Chair (2016, 2017) Host Committee (2018, 2019) Susan G. Komen Perfect Pink Party Co-Chair (2013) 

Ronnie F. Heyman

Ronnie F. Heyman is a successful attorney, corporate executive, and dedicated benefactor who has distinguished herself in art, business, and philanthropy. She is chairman of GAF Corporation, the country’s largest manufacturer of residential roofing and building materials. She serves as president of the Board of Trustees of the Museum of Modern Art and supports efforts to keep MoMA’s focus on the accessibility of the museum to children through her endowment of the Heyman Family Art Lab.

She pioneered a number of charitable initiatives alongside her late husband, Samuel J. Heyman. In 2001, they founded the Partnership for Public Service in Washington, D.C., to address the need for reform in government agencies, streamline the federal hiring process, and aid in presidential transitions. The Heymans also established fellowship programs at both Harvard and Yale law schools.

Heyman, a Palm Beach resident, is a trustee of the Norton Museum of Art and the Society of the Four Arts and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations Chairman’s Circle. She was the first recipient of the Evelyn H. Lauder Humanitarian Award of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Lois Pope

Lois Pope, a Manalapan resident, is one of the country’s foremost veteran advocates. She spearheaded the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial, the nation’s first permanent, public tribute to living disabled American veterans. She worked with Congress to establish an annual National Day of Honor for disabled veterans and executive produced two PBS films, Debt of Honor and VA: The Human Cost of War.

She advocated for legislation that allows American soldiers to bring home dogs that served alongside them in combat. Pope created the Pups4Patriots initiative, which trains dogs to become therapy dogs for veterans, and gave $1.5 million to the Tri-County Animal Rescue to endow its 9,000-square-foot veterinary center, which provides low or no-cost veterinary care.

Amid COVID-19, Pope made a $1 million donation to the Palm Beach County Food Bank to endow its meal program for children. In gratitude, the bank renamed the program Lois’ Food4Kids.

In memory of her mother, Pope gave $12 million to Bascom Palmer Eye Institute the largest gift ever received to create the Lois Pope Center for Retinal & Macular Degeneration Research at Bascom Palmerís Palm Beach Gardens campus.

First Lady Melania Trump

First Lady of the United States Melania Trump is the wife of President Donald J. Trump and the mother of Barron Trump. She is the second First Lady born outside of the United States, and she is the only First Lady to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. Like the First Ladies before her, Melania Trump will make her mark on history.

In her role as First Lady, Mrs. Trump focuses her time on the many issues affecting children. An unwavering characteristic of the First Lady is her aptitude for showing love and compassion in all that she does. Mrs. Trump spends much of her time meeting with children all over the world – in classrooms, hospitals, care facilities, at home in the White House, and in communities worldwide.

On May 7 2019, Mrs. Trump celebrated the anniversary of BE BEST—her awareness campaign focused entirely around the well-being of children. The campaign is broken into three pillars, which represent key areas of concern for Mrs. Trump: well-being, which includes the social and emotional health of children; online safety, dedicated to raising awareness around the importance of safe and positive online behaviors; and opioid abuse, and how to protect our most vulnerable from the effects of drug abuse while promoting resources and programs for all who struggle with addiction.

Audrey Gruss

Palm Beach resident, Audrey Gruss is president of the Audrey and Martin Gruss Foundation, which she established 30 years ago with her husband, Martin, to support charitable activities in the cultural arts, education and medical research. In operating the foundation, Gruss brings her considerable skills of executive experience in the fields of international marketing and advertising to the non-profit arena. She was the former co-owner and president of Terme di Saturnia, Inc., an international scientific skincare firm, and held executive positions at J.P. Stevens and Elizabeth Arden, as director of advertising and creative services worldwide.

Laurie S. Silvers

Laurie S. Silvers practiced law in South Florida for over 10 years before starting her career as a media entrepreneur. Silvers was the co-founder of the SyFy Channel, of which she served as chief executive officer from January 1988 to March 1992 and co-vice chairman from March 1992 to March 1994. She is the co-CEO of Hollywood.com, a leading celebrity news and entertainment information provider. She is also a majority owner of eSports Holdco, LLC, an eSports organization which owns the Misfits and Mayhem teams in the U. S. and Europe. Silvers is an owner of Treasure and Space Coast Broadcasting, which operates six radio stations on Florida’s Treasure Coast.

Candy Carson

Candy Carson is an author, philanthropist and musician. Born in Detroit, Michigan, Carson earned a scholarship to Yale University where she studied music and psychology. While in college, she met her future husband, Ben Carson, a neurosurgeon who who went on to become U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Carson’s passion lies foremost in fostering a better future for America’s children, which resulted in the co-founding, with her husband, of the Carson Scholars Fund more than 20 years ago. The nonprofit organization seeks to prepare the next generation for leadership and success in life through reading and education, and by recognition of high academic achievement.

Bonnie McElveen-Hunter

Ambassador is Bonnie McElveen-Hunter the founder and CEO of Pace, the largest independently owned custom content agency in the nation, serving Fortune 500 and leading companies including Walmart, Wells Fargo, Ritz-Carlton Hotels & Resorts and Southwest Airlines. McElveen-Hunter was appointed as the first woman national chairman of the board of the American Red Cross in 2004. She co-founded The Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders, which has grown to include 63 chapters nationwide and has raised nearly $100 million dollars for the American Red Cross. A long-time philanthropist, McElveen-Hunter has served as a member of the International Board of Directors of Habitat for Humanity, chaired the Alexis de Tocqueville Society, served on the United Way of America Board and founded the United Way Billion Dollar National Women’s Leadership Initiative.

Emilia May Fanjul

Emilia May Fanjul is a founding and board member of Fundacion MIR and is active in the Central Romana Hospital in La Romana, Dominican Republic. She is the board chair and founder of Everglades Preparatory Academy charter high school and Glades Academy elementary and middle charter schools in Pahokee, Florida. She serves on the board of trustees of the Animal Medical Center in New York City; is an associate trustee of Boston College, Boston, Massachusetts; and is a former member of the board of trustees of the Palm Beach Day School in Palm Beach, Florida. She is also a board member of the Florida Charter School Alliance and a Dame of Malta – American Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Darlene Luccio Jordan

Darlene Luccio Jordan is the executive director of the Gerald R. Jordan Foundation, a nonprofit organization named for her husband that supports education, health and youth services, as well as the arts. In 2012, she was awarded the Fordham Founder’s Award, honoring her outstanding philanthropic commitment to her alma mater, Fordham University. She is a member of Fordham’s Board of Directors and co-chair of Fordham’s successful $500 million campaign. She currently serves on Fordham’s executive committee and is chair of the Development and University Relations Committee and co-chair of the Financial Aid Campaign.

Cathy Flagg

Born and raised in West Palm Beach, Catharine (Cathy) Johnson Flagg has deep roots in Palm Beach County that strengthen her commitment to serve the community. Since 2002, Flagg has dedicated her time to serving on the board of the Hospice of Palm Beach County Foundation where she was co-chair of Hospice Evening in 2000 and 2012, and board president from 2005-2007. In addition, Flagg was a board member for the Lourdes Noreen McKeen residence from 2010-2014. Currently, Flagg serves as chair of the capital campaign for the Quantum House. Flagg has owned and operated Signature Collection, a stationery/gift store in West Palm Beach, since 1997.

Jane Ewing Rovensky Grace

Jane Ewing Rovensky Grace was born in New York City to John and Madjesa Ewing Rovensky. Jane Grace became a devoted volunteer to a number of community organizations. In Newport, Rhode Island, she was a member of the English Speaking Union. In Palm Beach, she was appointed by the Town of Palm Beach to serve on the Architectural Commission (ARCOM) and the Landmarks Preservation Commission. She proudly served as a board member of the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the Society of the Four Arts, the Garden Club of Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Zoo and the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League.

Sheila Reicher Fine

Born and raised in Pittsburgh, Sheila Reicher Fine has been a community volunteer and activist since her teen years. In 2003, Fine founded LEAD Pittsburgh (Leading Education and Awareness for Depression). In Palm Beach where she maintains a home, she is a board member of the Town of Palm Beach United Way and co-chair of 2015 Alexis de Tocqueville Society. In addition, she is a supporter of The Friedman Commission for Jewish Education, Norton Museum of Art and the Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, among other organizations.

Joan R. Van der Grift

Joan R. Van der Grift was born in Philadelphia but spent her early childhood living with her family in Guatemala due to her father’s agricultural business interests. Van der Grift is president of the board of the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League and a co-chairman of their “Off the Leash” fundraiser in 2015. She is a member of the board of governors of the Rehabilitation Center for Children and Adults in Palm Beach and the Garden Club of Palm Beach, where she chairs the Photography Committee and started the production of a yearbook documenting the club’s annual events.

Susie Elson

Susie Elson is known as a champion for community service. For nearly 50 years, Elson has been a volunteer leader supporting causes ranging from social services to education and the arts. Her longstanding interest in mental health issues on the local and state levels culminated in her serving as president of the National Mental Health Association, which has more than 1 million members.

Nancy Murray

A Palm Beach resident for more than 45 years, Nancy Murray has contributed to the beauty and philanthropy of the community. Professionally, she was an associate editor of The Saturday Evening Post and the assistant managing editor of The Ladies’ Home Journal. Her volunteer endeavors include serving as president and treasurer of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches. A Master Gardener, she was president and a founding member of the Horticulture Society of South Florida.

Gail Coniglio

A resident of Palm Beach for more than 30 years, Gail Coniglio was elected mayor of the Town of Palm Beach in 2011 after previously serving two terms as councilwoman. She was re-elected to a second term during the January 2013 Town Caucus. Mayor Coniglio is a successful restaurateur and business owner, committed civil servant, devoted wife and proud mother of six children and six grandchildren.

Danielle Hickox Moore

Danielle Hickox Moore grew up in Palm Beach and received her degree from Duke University. She is a licensed Realtor-associate with Brown Harris Stevens, president of the Mary Alice Fortin Foundation Inc., a director of the Fortin Foundation of Florida Inc., and director of the Barker Welfare Foundation and a member of its Finance Committee. Following in the footsteps of her grandmother, Mary Alice Fortin, and mother, Lesly Smith, Moore is a philanthropist and charitable-cause activist.

Joyce Licht Sang

Joyce Licht Sang founded The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation with her husband, Dusty, after their only child, Ryan, passed away from bipolar disorder in 2004 at the age of 24. Ryan was born and raised on Palm Beach Island, having attended Palm Beach Day School. From its earliest days, The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation established a clear mission to foster awareness, understanding and research for early-onset bipolar disorder and to support research in the Foundation’s “Quest For The Test™” to find an empirical, biomarker test for bipolar disorder leading to early detection and intervention.

Sally Ross Soter

Sally Ross Soter has dedicated her efforts to encouraging the arts and promoting access to healthcare for women. In the Palm Beaches, Soter has been actively involved with The Norton Museum of Art for more than 15 years in various leadership and committee roles. Presently she chairs the photography committee and serves on the governance and development and capital campaign committees. She also serves on the board of trustees for The Society of the Four Arts and is a member of the library committee. In Ohio, she serves as a member of the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital Board of Trustees and the Women’s Cardiovascular Health Advisory Council, both at The Ohio State University Medical Center.

Eileen Corroon Burns

An ardent preservationist, Eileen Corroon Burns was a recipient of the Ballinger Award in 1990 for her restoration of The Vicarage, the second oldest house in Palm Beach. Mrs. Burns founded the Policeman’s Ball at Mar-a-Lago, the primary fundraising event for the Palm Beach Police Foundation of which she is a board member. She is a trustee of The Society of the Four Arts, and a longtime member of the special events committee at the Norton Museum of Art. A supporter of Ambassador Nancy Brinker’s “Race for the Cure,” Mrs. Burns co-founded “Wake Up For the Cure,” the annual breakfast event at Club Colette. She also supports a host of Ireland-based causes and organizations.

*Suzanne Wright

Suzanne Wright and her husband, Bob, are co-founders of Autism Speaks, North America’s largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism. Inspired by their grandson, who suffers from autism, they launched the foundation in February 2005, which also works to increase awareness of autism spectrum disorders and advocate for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.  In May of 2010 the Wrights received honorary doctor of humane letters degrees from St. John’s University.

Iris Apfel

Iris Apfel and her husband Carl founded Old World Weavers, an international textile manufacturing company. The designs attracted the sophisticated tastes of Greta Garbo, Marjorie Merriweather Post, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Estée Lauder. Though the couple sold the company to Stark Carpet, they have remained involved as consultants. Apfel was the topic of a 2004 exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Costume Institute. In 2007, The Norton Museum of Art featured a streamlined version of the exhibit by Apfel.

Dr. Gail Austin Cooney

Dr. Gail Austin Cooney is the medical director emeritus for Hospice of Palm Beach County, an independent, not-for-profit hospice, where she currently serves as a board member. She serves as president of the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, and was named a fellow in 2004. She is board certified in Hospice & Palliative Medicine and Neurology. Dr. Cooney is chairman of the Ethics Committee for both Good Samaritan Medical Center and Hospice of Palm Beach County. She is a graduate of the Mayo Medical School.

Vicki Halmos

Mrs. Vicki Halmos has a call to service to improve the lives of children and families — often through the arts. She serves on the boards of the Center for Creative Education, focusing on academic standards of kids at risk through the arts; The Ann Norton Sculpture Garden, encouraging conservation education; and The Palm Beach County Film Institute, initiating responsible film projects for students. She is on the board of directors for Turtle Nest Village and Kids@Home, both of which help teenagers transition from foster care to adulthood. Mrs. Halmos is a graduate of the University of Alabama.

Gay Hart Gaines

Mrs. Gay Hart Gaines is a trustee of the Palm Beach County Republican Party, past president of the Palm Beach Republican Club and a current board member. In the early ’90s, Mrs. Gaines was elected chairman of the National Review Institute. In 1993, Congressman Newt Gingrich recruited Mrs. Gaines to be the chairman of GOPAC, a national organization dedicated exclusively to electing Republicans to state and local offices. She remained chairman until 1997. In 2003, Mrs. Gaines was appointed to the board of Corporation for Public Broadcasting by President George W. Bush, and was confirmed by the U.S. Senate for a term of six years. She holds degrees from Sweet Briar College and the University of Minnesota.

Sydell L. Miller

With her late husband, Arnold, Sydell L. Miller co-founded Matrix Essentials, Inc., the largest manufacturer of professional hair and beauty products in the country. After Mr. Miller passed away in 1992, Mrs. Miller more than doubled the company’s sales before selling the business to Bristol-Myers Squibb in 1994. She remained chairman of the board until retiring in 1996. Mrs. Miller is the founder and director of the Sydell and Arnold Miller Foundation. She is one of the founders, and is president of the board of directors of SalonQuest. Mrs. Miller was inducted into the National Cosmetology Association’s Hall of Fame — the first non-cosmetologist to receive that honor.

*Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau

Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau is synonymous with the fashions she created and the business she developed, Lilly Pulitzer®. In the fashion world and in Palm Beach, Lilly Pulitzer Rousseau is widely known for her support for a wide range of philanthropic causes – from supporting the children and elderly of Darfur to serving as honorary chairman of the 2008 Red Cross Designer’s Show House. In addition, Mrs. Rousseau is a supporter of Stop! Children’s Cancer of Palm Beach County, Inc. and the Palm Beach Cat Rescue and Humane Society.

*Helen DeVos

Helen DeVos is a philanthropist and longtime supporter of the arts, health and education. She and her husband, Rich, received the William E. Simon Prize in Philanthropic Leadership in 2006. Mrs. DeVos is an honorary board member of the American Symphony Orchestra League in New York City, since serving as a board member from 1982-1992, vice chairman of the executive board from 1985-1992 and chairman of the nominating committee from 1989-1991. DeVos is the founding sponsor of the symphony’s DeVos Quartet and Artist in Residence program, and is a life member of the Women’s Committee.

Michele Kessler

Michele Kessler is the director of community relations at The Kessler Group, and is the co-founder and director of the Kessler Family Foundation of Boston. She and her husband, Howard, are active philanthropists through their family’s charitable foundation, which has made significant contributions to various health and welfare initiatives in the Boston and Palm Beach communities. Mrs. Kessler is a trustee of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and a member of the Women’s Health Leadership Forum at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. She has chaired and co-chaired events for the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Fund, the United Way of Massachusetts Bay and The American Cancer Society.

Diana Ecclestone

Mrs. Diana Ecclestone is executive vice president of National Investment Company. As a hospitality industry leader, she was appointed to the County’s Tourist Development Council, and has served since 1999. Mrs. Ecclestone has chaired many of the American Heart Association’s events including the 1999 Palm Beach Heart Auction and 2000 Heart Ball.  In 2005, she was co-chairman of the Dana Farber Cancer Institute’s Discovery Ball. She was an elected member of the Republican Executive Committee, a delegate to Presidency III and a member of the Regents.

Frances Fisher

Mrs. Frances Fisher founded the National Environmental Policy Institute in Washington, D.C., and also served in the West Wing of the White House as a special assistant to the legal counsel to the President and member of the advance team for Barbara Bush. She is a member of the board of directors of the Norton Museum of Art and The Humane Society of the Palm Beaches. Mrs. Fisher was recognized for her support of the Center for Family Services with their Humanitarian Award (2003). Lacoste honored Mrs. Fisher with the CROCO Award for outstanding community service and made a charitable donation on her behalf to the South Florida Science Museum (2005).

*Alicia Blodgett

Mrs. Alicia Blodgett has devoted her time to civic and charitable activities, including chairing the American Cancer Society Ball and the Ultimate Dinner Party for the Children’s Home Society. She has served as honorary chair for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the Junior League. She serves on the boards of the United Way, American Cancer Society, Children’s Home Society and the Palm Beach Republican Club.

Julie Fisher Cummings

Julie Fisher Cummings, along with co-founders Denise Ilitch and Susan Kleinpell, established the Lovelight Foundation. She has served as national president of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics, and on the boards of the Cranbrook Educational Community, the Council of Michigan Foundations, the Community Foundation of Southeastern Michigan, Rollins College in Orlando and the Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties. She is a founding member of the Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Palm Beaches. She served four years as board member of the United Way of Martin County. She attended the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and earned a bachelor’s degree from Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Lore Moran Dodge

Lore Moran Dodge began her call to community service as a junior chairman for events supporting the American Cancer Society. In 1994, she was co-chairman of “The Night of Stars,” a benefit for the Raymond F. Kravis Center for Performing Arts, and in 1995, she co-chaired the gala for the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. In addition, she has been co-chair for the American Red Cross Auction and twice co-chaired the Palm Beach Tropical Flower and Garden Show luncheon. Mrs. Dodge serves as secretary for the Hospice Foundation of Palm Beach County. She also serves on the board of directors for the American Ireland Fund in Boston.

Barbara Nicklaus

Barbara Nicklaus has helped raise more than $10 million for a myriad of charities. Among those efforts are the Barbara and Jack Nicklaus Junior Golf Endowment Fund. She is deeply involved with the Memorial Tournament, the event founded and hosted the last 28 years by Jack Nicklaus. Off the course, her interests range from cancer research to children in need through being a board member of Stop! Children’s Cancer of Palm Beach and the Center for Family Services. She played a role in the construction of the Nicklaus Children’s Hospital at St. Mary’s Medical Center.

*Maura Benjamin

Maura Benjamin is a graduate of Vassar College, and former assistant editor of Better Homes & Gardens Magazine. She is a representative of Christie’s in Palm Beach, and has served on the committee for the Susan G. Komen Foundation’s “Race for the Cure.” Mrs. Benjamin is the honorary founder and former board member of Wayside House, and received its highest volunteer honor, the Butterfly Award. For many years, she served on the advisory board of the Hanley-Hazeldon Foundation. She was a member of the health grants committee of the Community Foundation of Palm Beach & Martin Counties, and established a scholarship fund through the foundation. Mrs. Benjamin is an advisory trustee of the Society of the Four Arts.

Sydelle Meyer

Sydelle Meyer has been involved in the infrastructure of Palm Beach for over 30 years. She and her late husband are benefactors of the Interfaith Pavilion at St. Mary’s Medical Center as well as Jewish Community Centers in Harrison, N.Y. and West Palm Beach. They are the builders of the Arthur I. Meyer Jewish Academy in West Palm Beach as well as the religious school of Temple Judea. They gave the City of West Palm Beach the Meyer Amphitheater and the Meyer Auditorium at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Mrs. Meyers serves on the board of the Norton Museum of Art, and the board of the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach, the development board of the Kravis Center for Performing Arts as well as the Dreyfoos School of the Arts, United Way/Community Chest and Ballet Florida. She is a graduate of Ohio State University.

Susan Keenan

Susan Keenan is president and co-owner with her husband, Jim, of Ice Breakers Arena in Pompano Beach. A Palm Beach resident, Mrs. Keenan is the former owner of The Snooty Leopard, a gift store in Palm Beach, and for 13 years, worked as a TV news reporter and anchorwoman for NBC, CBS and ABC. She serves on the boards of Ballet Florida, Palm Beach Day School, and the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and founding chairman of the National Committee for the Performing Arts at Kennedy Center. She is a graduate of Palm Beach Atlantic University.

Edie Schur

Edie Schur has been active as a volunteer leader of healthcare organizations in Palm Beach and New York City. She has held a variety of leadership posts with Intracoastal Health Systems and the Intracoastal Health Foundation, and serves as a board member for the Palm Healthcare Foundation. Mrs. Schur has chaired the Susan G. Komen Foundation Race for the Cure, and is the chairman of the Committee for Academic Excellence for the Palm Beach Public School and tutor at Palm Beach Public School. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania.

Pat Johnson

Pat Johnson is a member of the Intracoastal Health Foundation Trustees’ Board of Advisors. She was a longtime volunteer in the physical therapy department at St. Mary’s Hospital, where she and her husband served on committees and contributed financially to the hospital’s growth. Mrs. Johnson was chairwoman of the 1999 Renaissance Ball and the Lord & Taylor opening to benefit St. Mary’s. She has served on the Women of Distinction Committee at Palm Beach Atlantic University since its inception.

*Jean Tailer

Jean Tailer is a trustee of the Hospice Guild of Palm Beach. She is a board member of the Preservation Foundation, and has chaired the gala for three years. Mrs. Tailer has also chaired the Red Cross Gala, and the Norton Museum of Art’s Bal des Arts. She was presented the Charitable Achievement Award by the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. She is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Civic Association, the Republican Club and the Everglades Club.

Nancy Brinker

A breast cancer survivor, Nancy Brinker is the founder of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and Race for the Cure. Established in 1982, the Komen Foundation has raised more than $200 million for breast cancer research, education and screening treatment programs nationwide. Mrs. Brinker served on the National Cancer Panel under Presidents Reagan and Bush. She is a national spokesperson for AstraZenca Pharmaceuticals and sits on the board for the Komen Foundation and U.S. Oncology, Inc.

Kit Pannill

Kit Pannill is a founding member and director of the Horticulture Society of South Florida, which presents the annual Palm Beach Tropical Flower Show. Mrs. Pannill is a member of the Garden Club of America/The Garden Club of Palm Beach and has been a horticulture GCA judge since 1997. She has served on the boards of and chaired galas for the Community Foundation of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, The Hospice Guild and Intracoastal Health Systems.

Patricia Cook

Patricia Cook is an accomplished vocalist, who sang at President Clinton’s inaugural dinner, and is especially active in arts-related charities. Mrs. Cook sits on the board of directors for the Kravis Center, and was honorary chairwoman for WXEL’s Palm Beach fund raiser in 1992.  She also contributes her time to the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach, the Intracoastal Health Foundation, the Community Foundation, the Community Chest/United Way, the William Holden Wildlife Foundation and Hospice of Palm Beach County.

Kathryn C. Vecellio

Kathryn C. Vecellio, is a full-time community volunteer. She serves as trustee for Intracoastal Health Systems, Inc., The Palm Beach Literary Society and  the Leukemia Society. Mrs. Vecelio has also served on the boards of The Benjamin School, the Center for Children in Crisis and Junior Achievement. A member and past regent of the Palm Beach Chapter DAR, and a past president of the Junior League of the Palm Beaches, She has chaired the Salvation Army’s Christmas Gala, and the Schepens Eye Research Institute’s Palm Beach Gala.

Nicki Harris

Nicki Harris sits on the boards of the Civic Association of Palm Beach, the Norton Museum of Art and the Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. Mrs. Harris has co-chaired, with Hillie Mahoney, the annual Night of Stars” gala at the Kravis Center, to raise money for the Children’s Education Fund. She has a degree in fashion merchandising, marketing and management.

Hillie Mahoney

Hillie Mahoney is cofounder of The Harvard Mahoney Neuroscience Institute in Cambridge, Mass., and The Mahoney Institute for Health Maintenance in New York. Mrs. Mahoney is a director of The Mahoney Institute of Neuroscience at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, and former director of The Neurosciences Institute of New York (now located in La Jolla, Calif.). She serves on the boards of The Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Hospice Guild. For two years, she co-chaired the “Night of Stars” gala at the Kravis Center.

Anita Hamilton Michaels

Anita Hamilton Michaels devotes her time to helping others by raising funds to support the organizations that can make a difference in people’s lives. The Palm Beach Chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives honored her in 1995 as “Outstanding Volunteer Fund Raiser.” She is a member of the Palm Beach Civic Association, and divides her time among several concerns including Hospice Guild of Palm Beach, Hospice of Palm Beach County, Hanley-Hazelden and the Palm Beach Community Chest/United Way.

*Dorothy Schulman

Dorothy Schulman cares about kids. She has worked tirelessly for St. Mary’s Hospital, serving as honorary chairwoman for the Chanel fashion show for St. Mary’s Children’s Hospital, and as both chairwoman and advisory chairwoman for St. Mary’s Hospital Ball. Mrs. Schulman devoted time to the Henry Street Youth Rehabilitation facility in New York City. She also supports the Norton Museum of Art, Operation Headstart program, and serves on the Women’s Board of the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

*Helen Cluett

Helen Cluett is the recipient of the 1994 One and Only award from the Palm Beach Chamber of Commerce. She sits on the Board of Trustees of the Norton Museum of Art, is active in the Republican party, and has been employed by Christies for many years. Mrs. Cluett has held many leadership positions at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea, including service as a licensed lay reader and a chalice bearer. She is a member of the Altar Guild, and a former vestryperson.

*Helen K. Persson

Helen K. Persson has made a career of caring. She is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. She was a pediatric nurse until she joined the U.S. Navy, from which she eventually retired with the rank of Lieutenant Commander. She sang opera professionally with the San Francisco Opera. She received an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Colgate University in 1984. Mrs. Persson’s philanthropic interests in the Palm Beaches include the Kravis Center for Performing Arts, where she established the Helen Persson Opera Enhancement program. She serves on the boards of the Kravis Center and the Palm Beach Opera.

*Jean Feather

Long-time general manager of Saks Fifth Avenue in Palm Beach, Jean Feather has also served on several boards including, the Palm Beach Community Chest/United Way, Chamber of Commerce, Adopt-a-Family of Palm Beach County, Palm Beach Fellowship of Christians and Jews and the Arthritis Foundation, Florida Mideast Branch. She has also coordinated fundraising events for Hospice Guild of Palm Beach, Cystic Fibrosis, Kravis Center and the Alzheimer Association. She is a graduate of Indiana University.

*Mary Schott

Mary Schott spent a decade as a top model with the Eileen Ford Modeling Agency in New York City, appearing on the covers of Cosmopolitan, Vogue, Harper’s and Town & Country magazines. In Palm Beach she has devoted much time to the YWCA’s Mary Rubloff Harmony House, which offers shelter to women in danger of domestic violence. Schott’s other charitable and philanthropic efforts include the International Piano Competition, Kravis Center, American Ireland Fund, Palm Beach Opera and Palm Beach Pops.

Carolyn Buckley

Carolyn Buckley graduated from Vanderbilt University, and became associate beauty editor for Town & Country magazine in New York, while being active in the Junior League. In Palm Beach she obtained her realtor associate license and joined Sotheby’s International Realty. She worked tirelessly to build support for the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She chaired annual fashion shows and organized receptions, luncheons and parties honoring individuals and committees involved with the center. These benefits provided substantial support.

*Anita Dubnoff

In her 21 year career as North New Jersey area manager for the Development Corporation for Israel, Anita Dubnoff was for a time the only female manager. She was responsible for creating major fundraising events featuring world-renowned people such as Eleanor Roosevelt and Golda Meir. In Palm Beach, she serves on the board of the Norton Gallery of Art Auxiliary and was past president. She has also devoted herself to the Mary Rubloff Harmony House of the YWCA of Palm Beach County. Mrs. Dubnoff was also a founding officer of the Jewish Arts Foundation.

Helen C. Ross

Helen C. Ross’ most rewarding mission has been Hospice of Palm Beach County. The fledgling organization needed both community recognition and funding, and Mrs. Ross focused her efforts in those directions, making Hospice a full-time unpaid job for eight years. In 1988, the $4.5 million Gerstenberg Hospice Center opened debt-free; it was the first free-standing hospice facility in the Southeast. She serves as chairman of the board of the Hospice Guild of Palm Beach, and vice chairman and secretary of Hospice of Palm Beach County. Mrs. Ross attended Oklahoma University.

*Rose Sachs

Rose Sachs and her husband, *Mortimer, were once the largest property owners on Worth Avenue in Palm Beach. She played an integral role in building an outstanding Palm Beach real estate firm. Working with designer Theodore Metzger, Mrs. Sachs searches for and purchases high-quality antiques, which Mertzger integrates into his interior designs. She has also given generously to many charitable organizations. Sachs Hall at Palm Beach Atlantic’s administrative complex is named in honor of Rose and Mortimer Sachs.

*Patricia Supper

Patricia Supper is an accomplished artist and equestrian. She and her husband Fred Supper established the Frederick and Patricia Supper Center of Achieving Excellence in Business and the Supper Honors Program at Palm Beach Atlantic University. The Suppers established the Patricia and Frederick Supper Galleries at the Bruce Museum in Greenwich, Conn., The Frederick and Patricia Supper Central Sculpture Garden at the Norton Gallery in Palm Beach, the Supper Club at the National Croquet Center in West Palm Beach and the Supper Library at the Long Ridge School in Stamford, Connecticut. Distinctions and honors include, United States Croquet Hall of Fame, and the 1991 Hermes Philanthropist of the Year award.  She was a graduate of The University of Oregon.