ANNUAL CELEBRATION RAISES FUNDS FOR THE EDUCATION AND ENRICHMENT PROGRAMS

Published: Mar 13, 2024

The audience caught the festive “Toes in the Sand” vibe at the Broward Performing Arts Foundation Annual Celebration featuring multi-platinum and Grammy® Award-winning Zac Brown Band. The country music and southern rock band had the crowd out of their seats and singing along as part of the festivities that raised funds for the Broward Center’s education and enrichment programs.

Presented by long-time Broward Center supporters Charles and Laura Palmer, the sold-out Annual Celebration kicked off with a cocktail reception at sundown in the Peck Courtyard. Guests then enjoyed dinner in the Amaturo Theater which had been transformed into a multi-tiered dinner club for the night. From there, they joined more than 2,000 patrons in the Au-Rene Theater for the Zac Brown Band performance. The evening ended with a chic beach after-party, where they danced to music curated by the popular DJ Laz at the Wendt Terraces and Huizenga Pavilion.

“This is a bittersweet evening for us,” said Foundation President Lisa Kitei as she welcomed guests to the dinner and warmly recognized Broward Center’s outgoing President and CEO Kelley Shanley. “He has been my partner in persuasion for more than 15 years.” She spoke of the growth of the organization during his tenure and said, “The Broward Center is stronger today than it has ever been.”

Kitei went on to thank supporters who helped make the Celebration one of the most anticipated events of the year. In addition to the “Knee Deep” Presenting Sponsors, Charles and Laura Palmer, “Chicken Fried” Sponsors were AutoNation, Burdette Beckmann Inc., Ann M. Burris, Rita Case, Linda Haller, Michelle Howland and S. Donald Sussman, Hudson Family Foundation, The Salah Foundation, Richard and Christine Welch, Gary Wendt, Weston Volvo Cars & Weston Nissan, and Mark and Linda Wilford. “Homegrown” Sponsors were Amazon, Stephanie Aoun and Robert Wagner, BBX Capital, Marty and Terri Cole, Leo Goodwin Foundation, Greenspoon Marder LLP, Gunster, Northern Trust, Stiles, Joyce W. Virga, and Linda and Douglas Von Allmen. Spirits Sponsor was Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits; Program Sponsor was Starmark; and Invitation Sponsor was Associated Printing Productions, Inc.

“This is always a spectacular evening with incredible entertainment, but we never lose sight of the reason we are here and that is to support the Broward Center’s education and enrichment programs,” said Broward Performing Arts Foundation Chair George LeMieux. “We all know how important it is to instill a love of the arts at an early age. We are proud to be a model for the nation with the largest, free arts-in-education programs in the country. These programs impact the lives of more than 100,000 students annually, and that is something to be proud of.”

For more information, call 954-468-3284 or email Foundation@BrowardCenter.org.

For nearly 40 years, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community engagement activities and capital projects. In 2021, the Foundation completed a $30 million capital campaign to renovate and restore the iconic Parker Playhouse. Prior to this, it raised $60 million to complete the Encore! capital campaign to renovate, renew and revitalize the Broward Center.

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About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts

One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 700 performances each year to more than 700,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level and UHealth-University of Miami Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 130,000 students annually. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.

THE BROWARD PERFORMING ARTS FOUNDATION, INC., REGISTRATION NUMBER SC-00882, MEETS ALL REQUIREMENTS SPECIFIED BY THE FLORIDA SOLICITATION OF CONTRIBUTIONS ACT. A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE 1-800-435-7352 OR CONTACTING WWW.FLORIDACONSUMERHELP.COM. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. 100% OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION IS RECEIVED BY THE FOUNDATION.

Photos (Credit: Downtown Photo): https://tinyurl.com/5fmmzed9

Cutlines (from left to right):

Photo 1: Charlie Palmer and Laura Palmer
Photo 2: George LeMieux, Lisa Kitei, Bonnie Barnett, Kelley Shanley
Photo 3: Kurt Zimmerman, Patty Hooley Zimmerman, Rita Case, Yvette Hooley, Mike Hooley
Photo 4: Steve Hudson, Jeannie Hudson
Photo 5: Graham Thomas, Valentina Tischenko, Ann Burris, David Kingston, Cindy Kemp, Jim Thayer, Maggie Burris, Luke Burris
Photo 6: Victoria Boldis, Alexander Welch, Christine Welch, Richard Welch, Ryan Welch, Courtney Valtman
Photo 7: Melissa Corrado Harrison, Bill Burpee, Noreen Salah Burpee
Photo 8: Mark Wilford and Linda Wilford
Photo 9: (Standing): Isabella Mila, Tom Mila, Carlye Cowheard, Sydney Thorp, Ashley Shea, Stephen Shea; (Seated): Alexa Sumby, Cristian Acero, Leah Acero, Giselle Malave
Photo 10: David Hall, Sandy Hall, Martha Taylor, Robert Taylor