The 2009 Book of Hope Luncheon took place at the Boca Raton Resort and Club on Monday, February 23rd. The luncheon raised over $100,000 for the Crohns and Colitis Foundation of America.

Scott Yablon, the honoree, spoke about how he got involved with the organization after his daughter was diagnosed with this chronic disease. Aaron Scharf, a fifteen year old Pine Crest student, gave an impassioned speech about the difficulties of living with the illness. Each speaker stressed the need to raise funds to continue research to help cure this difficult disease.

The luncheon was attended by over 300 people and featured a fashion show by Mayda Cisneros. It was an enjoyable afternoon that benefited a serious illness.

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Charities are always on the lookout for ways to entice people to support their causes and two local organizations have found a novel approach. The Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces ("IDF") and the Boca Raton Community Hospital Go Pink Challenge are both hosting events that feature game playing.

The IDF event takes place on Thursday, February 12th at Woodfield Country Club and features an evening of mah jongg. For more information call Betsy Horowitz at 561 483-2771.

The Go Pink Challenge offers scrabble, bridge, mah jongg, cribbage and canasta and takes place on different days throughout March at various local country club. The Play Dates are open to everyone so you can use this as a chance to visit some of our local country clubs. Contact the BRCH Foundation at 561 955-4142 for further details.

Playing games and supporting charities sounds like a great idea. Put your game face on and let the good times roll.

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The holiday season is rapidly approaching the Thanksgiving Day kick off. Stores, restaurants and neighborhoods are being decorated and the atmosphere is starting to have that festive holiday feel.

Unfortunately, this year's economic woes are greater than ever. Long term businesses are closing, people are being laid off and establishments that remain open have seen business declines. Individuals who were once charitable donors have now had to turn to the same social service agencies for aid for themselves and their families.

This holiday season is the perfect time for all of us to remember and assist our neighbors. By participating in programs offered by Food for Families, Meals on Wheels, churches, synagogues and other social service agencies, we can make a difference in people's lives.

There is an abundance of need and we all should do our share so that people do not go hungry in our community. Offer your time and resources so that you can enjoy the season knowing that you have helped others enjoy their holidays.

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October is national breast cancer awareness month and there are lots of local programs aimed at raising awareness and funding for breast cancer research.

Saks Fifth Avenue has its annual Key to the Cure sales event and Bloomingdales has the Little Pink Card. Lots of other retailers offer a charitable contribution to breast cancer funding in return for purchases of certain items.

The American Cancer Society is hosting the inaugural Stride in Style luncheon on October 2 and a 3.1 mile Making Strides Breast Cancer Walk on October 18th at Mizner Park. The 5th annual Go Pink Luncheon sponsored by Boca Raton Community Hospital will take place on Monday, October 20th at Boca West Country Club. Geralyn Lucas is making a repeat performance as the guest speaker and is sure to inspire the crowd. Contact the sponsoring organizations for reservations to these events.

Breast cancer strikes one in eight women. Chances are that someone you know will develop breast cancer. October is a great time to take advantage of these events and focus your efforts on helping find a cure for breast cancer.

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Boca Festival days was started by the Chamber of Commerce as a way to attract business during the off season month of August. It has evolved into an annual party/fundraiser/ activitysession and this year is no exception.

On tap this week are acting classes for students at the Caldwell Theatre, dueling pianos at FunKey Nutz to benefit Kids in Distress, an American Songbook contest to benefit Hospice of Palm Beach County and the Morikami Bon Festival on Saturday, August 9th from 5 - 9.

The signature event of the festival is the wine tasting, this year to be held on August 16th at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. " Wine and All That Jazz ....and More" will feature over 100 wines for sampling. Other interesting programming include a tennis tournament benefiting Ruth Rales Jewish Family Services, a ballroom dance battle featuring local politicians to benefit the George Snow Scholarship Fund and a Tropical Nights Martini Party at Bova.

Events vary in price and information about all activities can be found at www.bocaratonchamber.com.

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Special thanks to Delray blogger Mary Kay for the following information.

Kids in Distress, is holding their largest fund-raiser of the year. This non-profit organization helps prevent child abuse through parental education programs so children don’t have to suffer the trauma of being taken away from their homes.

When it’s not possible for them to remain at home, Kids has a main campus in Wilton Manors. There they live in a safe environment until loving foster homes can be found for them. An ancillary office in Delray Beach is located at 601 No. Congress Ave, #413.

All profits from the Apr. 18 Gala go to Kids in Distress.

* All That Jazz
* Fri., Apr. 18, 7p.m. through midnight
* Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, 100 South Ocean Ave.
* Tickets $350
* Black Tie Optional
* Information, Call 954.390.7654

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Hot chocolate from the Boca Raton Hotel and Resort slides down my throat, the velvety taste lingering on my tongue. I pick up and devour a piece of Boca Trash from So Sweet It Is, relishing the sweet salty combination. Next comes the piece de resistance, a warm chocolate souffle topped with vanilla ice cream from Royal Palm Country Club. I follow it up with a chocolate martini and even I, an affirmed chocoholic, am satiated.

The seventh annual Junior League of Boca Raton's Chocolate Decadence fundraiser took place on Thursday February 7 at the Shops at Boca Center. Hundreds of people came to sip, imbibe, nibble, munch and devour unlimited samples from multiple stands for the $30 admission fee. In addition to chocolate and its derivatives, several stalls offered real food, including sandwiches, soup, and sushi, to counteract the overdose on the glycemic index. For those truly suffering from food overload, there was live music and vendors offering everything from purses, shoes, stationary and soaps for sale.

As a relapsed chocoholic, this event has become a tradition in my family. I love the kitschy fountain filled with plastic flamingos and soap bubbles, the strange human statues and of course the food. My only complaint is that there is a VIP tent for which you have to pay $70 to enter and that Morton's, which also has a great chocolate souffle, has moved into the VIP tent.

The event always coincides with Valentine's Day and is one you should be sure to attend if you like chocolate. It is a true Willy Wonka experience in Boca and one that kids and adults can both appreciate.

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Over 25,000 people jammed Flagler Boulevard in West Palm Beach on Saturday, January 19th for the Susan G. Komen South Florida Race for the Cure. Young and old, men and women, children and pets, including one dyed pink standard poodle, all joined together to run or walk 5 kilometers to help find a cure for breast cancer.

As in past years, I participated in the Race for the Cure and once again saw the strength of our communities' efforts to fight this horrible disease. Groups carried banners representing churches, synagogues, schools, businesses, counties, and civic organizations. People wore the event t-shirt or donned one of the own and adorned themselves with pink parasols, hats, necklaces and boas.

Especially moving were the tribute signs worn by many of the participants. Pinned on their backs were lists either in memory of deceased family members and friends or in honor of those who had breast cancer. The number of names was overwhelming, highlighting the need to find a cure for this disease.

The event is in its 17th year and is part of a nationwide effort started by Palm Beacher Nancy Brinker after her sister died of breast cancer. This year organizers anticipated revenues of $1.5 million for the West Palm Beach walk.

The walk itself took less than an hour and I can't think of a better or more meaningful way to have spent my Saturday morning.

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Upcoming events:
Thursday, January 24 at 9 p.m. - Republican Presidential Debate at FAU
Saturday, January 26 at 10 a.m. - Opening of the City of Boca Raton Library on Spanish River Boulevard
Thursday, February 7 at 6 p.m. - Junior League of Boca Raton Chocolate Decadence, Shops at Boca Center on Military Trail 561-620-2553 or visit www.JLBR.org.

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Now that the holidays are over and the snowbirds have taken up residence, the social season is starting in full force. Mail boxes are starting to overflow with invitations for multiple charitable balls.

If you have a deep wallet, you can take advantage of events and parties at some very cool venues. Even if your philanthropic budget is limited, it's fun to pick one event and hobnob with the rich and almost famous.

Some of the upcoming galas are listed below. Enjoy the season and feel free to add your own favorites as a comment to this entry.

Saturday, January 19th - Imagination Ball, Boca Raton Community Hospital, Boca Raton Resort and Club (561) 955-4142

Sunday, January 20th - State of Israel Bonds Prime Minister's Club Dinner, Boca West County Club (800) 229-6950 ext. 5829

Thursday, February 7 - Torch of Learning Award Dinner, American Friends of Hebrew University, Woodfield Country Club (561) 750-8585

Saturday, February 9 - American Heart Association's 26th Annual Boca Raton Heart Ball, Avitat Aviation (561) 394-0170

Sunday, February 17th - Donna Summer Concert and Disco Party, Stand Among Friends, Bank Atlantic Center (561) 297-4402

Tuesday, February 26 - Focus on the Future, Weizmann Institute of Science, Four Seasons Resort (561) 210-8440

Sunday, March 2 - Friends of the Israel Defense Forces Annual Gala, Mar-A-Lago Club (561) 483-2771

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Now that Thanksgiving week is here and the winter holidays are quickly approaching, make participating in a charitable activity one of your goals before year end. The needs in Boca and South Palm Beach County are great. If everyone does one activity, the cumulative effect will be tremendous.

On Thanksgiving day, my family will be delivering meals to elderly, homebound individuals through a program organized by the Kosher Food Pantry. Meals on Wheels, which is run through the Area Agency on Aging, also provides meals to homebound people and can be reached at 561 684-5885. Soup kitchens always need additional helpers around holidays and you can call them directly to check their schedule.

Volunteer opportunities abound and can be found through reading the paper, calling agencies directly or searching the web. Having teenage children, one of my favorite references is the website called Volunteens http://www,volunteens.com which lists opportunites for kids to volunteer in Broward and Palm Beach County. Please send me information about your favorite charitable organization and I will include it in future blogs.

Tal Ben-Shahar, a former Harvard professor and author of the book Happier, believes that people who express gratitude are happier individuals. He notes that we too often take our lives for granted. One of my goals is to use this holiday season as a chance to appreciate the wonderful things in life. I know that giving to others will in the end truly benefit me.

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