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Achievement

By Mary Thurwachter

During the past three years, the Delray Beach Home Tour was a shadow of its previous self and the reason was the pandemic, of course. In 2020, the tour was simply a video event showing highlights of homes, enough to let fans of the popular annual event know they weren’t forgotten.

The following two years were mini tours, says Kari Shipley, longtime co-chairwoman of the fundraiser. “We had to limit how many people attended because people were still concerned about COVID.”

This year’s event, set for 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 15, will return to its pre-pandemic scope.

“We’re opening up to full scale,” Shipley said. “We’re really excited. We’ve got great sponsors and eight distinctive homes in the beachfront North End neighborhood of Delray Beach. We’ve got everything from a 1940s cottage to a brandnew house where the owners moved in the 1st of January.

“Now, in the tour’s 20th year, we’re back to expecting 600-700 people and we’ve already sold 450 tickets,” Shipley said in mid-February. “With less than a month to go, we’re pretty sure we’ll reach our $130,000 goal. We’ve already got $118,000.” for

The North End neighborhood runs from the north side of Atlantic Avenue north to George Bush Boulevard, from the Atlantic Ocean to the Intracoastal Waterway.

Guests can look forward to a leisurely day exploring unique homes, a catered lunch and trolley service between homes, if they like. But Shipley says the seven-block tour is totally walkable for people who choose to hoof it.

“We tell everyone to wear your most comfortable walking shoes,” Shipley said.

Parking will be at First Presbyterian Church of Delray Beach on Gleason Street, just south of Atlantic Avenue. That’s where people can catch the trolley.

Money raised will go to the Achievement Centers for Children & Families, a community-based organization that provides opportunities for under-resourced children to thrive in a positive environment.

The event runs smoothly, Shipley said, thanks to cochairwoman Noreen Payne, volunteer coordinator Deborah Dowd, staff at the Achievement Centers Foundation office, and the 100 or more volunteers who are stationed at the homes, on the trolley directing people where to go, and at the buffet luncheon.

The lunch is available from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the historical home of Frank McKinney at 610 N. Ocean Blvd.

“There’s a gorgeous big tree with decking all around it and a great ocean view,” Shipley said. “People will love having lunch there.”

Another highlight will be the dozen plein-air artists who will set up easels around the featured homes and at various places on the route. Attendees can watch the artists work and even buy paintings from them. After the event, paintings will be on display at Chapel 4, a historical museum in a landmark building in the heart of the Marina Historic District downtown. The tour started 20 years ago when Achievement Centers board members Anne Bright and Barbara Murphy came up with the idea to raise money for the nonprofit organization. Since then, the event has raised more than $1.6 million. Ú

Tickets for the March 15 tour are $125. The event runs 10 a.m.-4 p.m. and includes lunch. Advance reservations are necessary. Tickets are available by calling the Achievement Centers Foundation office at 561-266-0003 or ordering at www.achievementcentersfl.org/ delray-home-tour/.

Celebrations

Corporate Partners Business Speaker Series

Kravis Center, West Palm Beach Jan. 11

Laugh with the Library

Private home, Delray Beach Feb. 10

Former Apple CEO and Pepsi Vice President John Sculley addressed the crowd at the second luncheon of the season. Sculley discussed his career highlights during an interview by Kravis Center board member Jeffrey Stoops. More than 160 corporate partners and their guests attended, listening to the former executive talk about working at Pepsi in the ’70s when the brand became known for its marketing innovations and at Apple in the ’80s when the Macintosh was launched during the Super Bowl. ABOVE: Jane Mitchell and Stoops. Photo provided by Capehart

Luncheon

Sailfish Club of Florida, Palm Beach Jan. 24

Good humor and laughter were in abundance at the Delray Beach Public Library’s 16th annual fundraiser. Angelo and Mari Bianco served as hosts of the event, which is a perennial favorite for its creative, casual, funfilled night of comedy, cocktails, and supper-bythe-bite. James Austin Johnson of ‘Saturday Night Live’ headlined the show, which raised more than $330,000 and attracted nearly 400 attendees.

ABOVE: (l-r) Lindsay Hays Saraj, Mari Bianco, Chiara Clark, Lynsey Kane and Jacqueline Owen.

MIDDLE: (l-r) Bobby, Caron and Robert Dockerty.

RIGHT: Donna Paolino Coia and Brenda Medore. Photos provided

Opening reception

Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, Lake Worth Beach Jan. 26

Les Girls of Palm Beach President Martina Covarrubias presented a check to Creative Waves Foundation President Candace Tamposi for the construction of a new enrichment center in Belle Glade. During the gathering, Tamposi provided a history of the foundation and described plans for the facility to provide after-school activities and tutoring for children. A multinational, multilingual women’s club with 48 members from 31 countries, Les Girls of Palm Beach donates annually to a local charity. ABOVE: Covarrubias and Tamposi.

Photo provided

Several guests attended the debut of the ‘Visualizing Climate Disruption’ exhibition highlighting more than 40 works from 17 Palm Beach County-based professional artists. On display through April 8, the show focuses on artists’ perspectives of climate change. With Florida on the front lines of sea-level rise, climbing temperatures, catastrophic storms, devastation of coral reefs and disappearing sea grasses, the exhibition aims to engage local audiences. ABOVE: Sandra Miller Swill stands before a collection of her work. RIGHT: Lorraine Rabin and Michelle Marra. Photos provided by Jacek Gancarz

Celebrations

Glam Philanthropic Affair Boca Raton Airport — Jan. 28

The third annual GPA, benefiting the Eda & Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation, was a festive night of ‘funraising.’ Tyler Cameron, a contestant on season 15 of ‘The Bachelorette,’ made an appearance as a special guest. All proceeds will be earmarked for scholarships for accomplished students. This school year, the amount distributed totaled $860,000. RIGHT:

(l-r) Elyse Cromer, Amanda, Cliff, Eda and Eric Viner, and Niki Knopf. Photo

Sunset cocktail reception

Casa Alva, Manalapan Jan. 19 and

Gary and Katherine Parr served as hosts of a party marking the Kravis Center’s 30th anniversary. The event honored members of the center’s education committee and celebrated the 3 millionth student served by the center’s education programs. ‘The education committee at the Kravis Center has a long-standing history of collaborating with different organizations in our community to bring the arts and learning to students of all ages,’ Katherine Parr said. ‘As we look at making the performing arts even more accessible, it’s an honor to work with the excellent team at the Kravis Center and an exceptional committee of dedicated community members.’ LEFT: Katherine and Gary Parr.

‘An Evening with Jay Leno’ Boca West Country Club, Boca Raton Jan. 8

The Boca West Children’s Foundation raised $1.1 million for projects serving at-risk youths at its annual gala. The event featured entertainment by the acclaimed late-night talk-show host and stand-up comedian as well as performances by Dreyfoos School of the Arts’ jazz band and dance department. ‘We were thrilled to commemorate our 13th anniversary and the significant impact the foundation has made in our community by supporting local children’s charities,’ foundation Executive Director Pamela Weinroth said, noting that since its inception in 2010, more than $18 million has been donated to 30-plus local charities. ‘The generosity of our supporters at the gala was overwhelming.’