Kravis Center Hosts Appreciation Luncheon
For Board of Directors, Life Trustees
& Standing Committee Members

As the celebrated 20th anniversary season begins to wind down, the Kravis Center hosted its annual Appreciation Luncheon for members of its Board of Directors, Life Trustees and Standing Committees. More than 80 valued friends and supporters attended a special luncheon on April 26 that was generously sponsored by Laurie Silvers and Mitchell Rubenstein.

The distinguished attendees were welcomed by Kravis Board Chairman William A. Meyer, who thanked everyone for giving freely of their “time, talent and dollars” during the Center’s milestone anniversary season.

Reviewing the Kravis Center’s first 20 years, Mr. Meyer cited the following impressive statistics:
+ More than 7,000 volunteers
+ 1,775,000 million calls handled by the box office, generating the sale of 5,764,000 tickets
+ More than 8,000,000 guests
+ More than 1,000,000 Palm Beach County school students served by Kravis Center education programs

Mr. Meyer announced that the Helen K. Persson Endowment Society now has 112 members and is growing. He acknowledged the generosity of Helen Persson and thanked her for “being a shining example for others by her service, leadership, and commitment to the long-term fiscal stability of the Kravis Center.”

Mr. Meyer gave special thanks to Development Committee Chair Jane Mitchell and fellow committee members who served as Chairs for the Kravis Center’s 20th Anniversary Season Gala, Jeff Bateman, Mike Bracci, Mark Freitas, Chris Havlicek, Harriet Hoffman, Irene Karp, John Kessler, Ted Mandes, and Monika Preston. He also recognized Gala Chair and committee member Kathryn Vecellio, who also served as Honorary Gala Chair in 2009, Gala Chair in 2007, and Gala Co-Chair in 2005 as well as, Laurie Silvers who served as Honorary Gala Chair this year and in 2010, as well as Gala Chair in 2011, 2009 and 2008.

In addition, Mr. Meyer acknowledged and thanked committee chairs Sidney Kohl (Audit Committee), Joseph Sanches (Building and Grounds Committee), John Jenkins (Community Relations Committee), Jeff Bateman (Corporate Partners Executive Committee), Jane Mitchell (Development Committee), Barbara Golden (Education Committee), Laurie Silvers (Employee Relations & Benefits Committee), Gary Lickle (Finance Committee), Alec Flamm (Governance/Nominating Committee), James Harpel (Investment Committee), Ted Mandes (Palm Beach Wine Auction Committee), David I. Kosowsky (Strategic Planning Committee), and Kristin Demeritt and Christine DiRocco (Young Friends Executive Committee).

Citing her “great admiration for what the Kravis Center has accomplished since its premiere season in 1992,” Ms. Silvers, the luncheon sponsor, praised the not-for-profit performing arts center for presenting “a variety of world class entertainment at affordable prices. From pops to opera, ballet to Broadway and country to classical, the Center is truly the performing arts focal point in our community.”

Ms. Silvers thanked the luncheon attendees for their “vision and hard work” over the last two decades. “It is an honor for me to be part of the Kravis Center… and to see firsthand the synergy that takes place when dedicated volunteers and staff work together to live our mission,” she added.

Following a delicious lunch, the guests were treated to a special performance by singer Connie James, a favorite of Kravis Center audiences whose sparkling repertoire ranges from the Great American Songbook to soft rock blues by James Taylor and Joni Mitchell. Pianist Doug Howard accompanied Ms. James.

Cut Lines to Attached Jpegs:
(All IDs are L-R; Photos by Corby Kaye’s Studio Palm Beach)

1. Mark Levy, Mayor Jeri Muoio, Bill Meyer
2. Laurie Silvers, Ted Mandes
3. Paul Leone, Judy Mitchell
4. Jane Mitchell, Sarah Collins, Judy Goodman
5. Gary Lickle, Lee Wolf
6. Stuart Frankel, Alec Flam, Stephen Brown
7. Ron Meshberg, Helen Persson, Barbara Golden, Mia Matthews, Marcie Gorman-Althof
8. Constance Ward, John Jenkins, Zenetta Miller
9. Zachary Berg, Jeffrey Pheterson, Richard Sloane
10. Stanley Rumbough, John Howard

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