40th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
On December 3 at 6pm, Adopt-A-Family will mark a significant milestone with our 40th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration. For four decades, this beloved agency fundraiser has generated vital support for our programs and services. We are honored to announce that board member Nancy Kyle (pictured left) will chair the landmark event. Nancy’s leadership skills and passion for our mission have positioned the event in Palm Beach to be exceptionally memorable and successful.
To honor the storied history of the event, the Chairs of the 10th, 20th, and 30th Tree Lighting Celebrations (pictured below) will serve as Honorary Co-Chairs. We would like to thank Paula Michel (10th), Alice Tarone (20th), and Beth Hennessy (30th) for contributing to the ongoing success of this agency tradition. All three women spearheaded the event with excellence and have remained committed to Adopt-A-Family ever since.
Thank you to every Tree Lighting Committee member, sponsor, donor, and attendee who has supported this event over the last 40 years. You are a special part of the agency’s impact and legacy.
If you have any questions, please contact Sydney Parmet at sparmet@aafpbc.org.
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Thank you to all who attended
the 39th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration!
Adopt-A-Family’s biggest event of the year brought over 240 agency friends together for an evening bubbling with holiday cheer and hope for the new year. In its 39th year, the annual Tree Lighting Celebration was, once again, a smashing success, raising significant funds to support Adopt-A-Family’s work in the community.
In addition to the many beloved Tree Lighting traditions featured throughout the night, an exciting new element of our silent auction made its debut this year: Baskets from the Heart. These fabulous gift baskets were packed with holiday treats for the whole family, purchased by guests to give to families in our programs.
Adopt-A-Family owes the success of this year’s fundraiser to each and every member of the Tree Lighting Committee. We thank Chair Karen Fischer and Co-Chair Nancy Kyle for their dedicated and generous leadership, which led our yearly event to new heights.
Our heartfelt gratitude goes out to every sponsor, and to all who donated to our silent and live auctions, including distinguished guests Lewis Miller and Danielle Rollins.
To all attendees and supporters, thank you for making our 39th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration truly unforgettable.
From left to right: Nancy Kyle (Co-Chair), CEO Matt Constantine, Karen Fischer (Chair)
2023 Tree Lighting Committee:
Karen Fischer – Chair
Nancy Kyle – Co-Chair
Patricia Anathan, Judy Backstrom, Lynn Boda-Menery, Judy Coran, Lori Corrigan, Kristine Cruikshank, Cheryl Culp, Elizabeth DeBrule, Jen Dudnyk, Sheila Dunne, Heather Ferguson, Julie Gambale, Carolyn Haggerty, Ann Hamrock, Sherry Hay, Bernadette Haynes, Penny Heller, Beth Hennessy, Carol Jeney, Nancy Kalaher, Melissa Koppelman, Brenda McGarrity, Marietta McNulty, Paula Michel, Bel Miller, Xiomi Murray, Jennifer Nawrocki, Rita Nowak, Chris Oberlink, Michelle Mason Otremba, Debby Parr, Kathy Peterson, Jeanette Ristau, Julie Rudolph, Susan Spera, Alice Tarone, Anita Tauber, Carolyn Thompson
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38th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
Over 200 agency friends joined us for the 38th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration, and thanks to the generosity of all attendees and sponsors, the evening was a spectacular success!
The 2022 Tree Lighting Committee enthusiastically devoted their time, energy, and resources to ensure the success of this year’s event. We extend our gratitude to the entire committee, thoughtfully led by Chair Elizabeth DeBrule (left) and Co-Chair Karen Fischer (right).
We are incredibly grateful to all who supported this year’s event. Your kindness and commitment to our mission has equipped us to continue providing life-changing support services to our local community in a time of unprecedented need and urgency.
View the full photo album on our Facebook!
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37th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
The 37th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration exceeded all expectations. The cherished event returned to Palm Beach on December 7, 2021, and our community of supporters marked the long-anticipated reunion by pledging a record-breaking $800,000 in support of the families served by Adopt-A-Family. The room was overflowing with the kindness of generosity of our friends and donors.
Guests were serenaded by The King’s Academy Choir upon their arrival at the event. As the sun set over the Intracoastal, attendees enjoyed cocktail hour, our renowned orchid auction, and a display of select silent auction. The event also featured our inaugural Wine Pull, where attendees purchased a wine cork for $100 and won a corresponding bottle valued up to $1,000.
During a gourmet dinner, guests enjoyed remarks by CEO Matt Constantine, a beautiful testimony from a former agency client who is now pursuing her Ph.D., and an exciting live auction led by longtime agency friend, Neil Saffer. Bidder paddles were raised all over the room as the evening concluded with our annual Call from the Heart.
The majority silent auction was held online again this year, allowing supporters from all over the country to join the fun. We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of the event by bidding online.
Event Chair Nancy Kalaher and Co-Chair Elizabeth DeBrule led the amazing Tree Lighting Committee with enthusiasm and dedication for twelve months in preparation for the event. Adopt-A-Family is incredibly grateful to our event chairs, committee, sponsors, volunteers, attendees, and virtual supporters. The funds raised at Tree Lighting will equip Adopt-A-Family to be a lifeline for Palm Beach County families throughout 2022.
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