WEST PALM BEACH, FL—There were large brimmed beauties with dramatic flowers, flirty and fun headbands adorned with feathers and swirls, and brightly colored cloche hats reminiscent of the roaring 1920s at the “Hats Off to You” luncheon at Café Sapori on February 9, 2009. Ladies oohed and aahed as they admired each other trying on the designs of Carina Gatto from Hat Etcetera in Boca Raton while raising funds for the new Palm Healthcare Pavilion and Mollie Wilmot Children’s Center. 

The luncheon raised nearly $4,000 for the Pavilion, a new multi-disciplinary outpatient center in West Palm Beach that provides comprehensive care to children with special healthcare needs and their families. Lingard and Jacqueline Klein graciously sponsored the luncheon and Café Sapori supported the efforts of chairs Charles Contessa and Cathy Hodge to ensure a successful fund raising event.

The event is one of a series of luncheons chaired by Contessa and Hodge to raise funds and awareness of local charities. The luncheons were started at the former Governor’s Club in West Palm Beach, and become a regular event coordinated by Contessa when he was general manager of the club. Today he and Hodge continue the luncheons at various locations throughout Palm Beach County. “These women look forward to coming together for the camaraderie and also for the chance to support so many important non-profits that are making an impact in our community,” said Contessa. 

Suzette W. Wexner, president and CEO of Palm Heatlhcare Foundation found the women’s effort to come together for the benefit of charity analogous to the mission of Palm Healthcare Pavilion. “Just as these women come together to do more for the community, we have brought together partners from all over the county under one roof to offer the knowledge, confidence and healing families need to lead a healthier, greater life,” said Wexner.

The new Palm Healthcare Pavilion and Mollie Wilmot Children’s Center is a first-of-its-kind outpatient center for children with special healthcare needs in Palm Beach County. This $12.5 million multidisciplinary center in West Palm Beach is designed to improve the health and quality of life for children with cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, kidney disorders, and asthma, and provide innovative training and support services for their families and health professionals. The new Diabetes and Education Research Center at the Pavilion will provide care and counseling for children and adults with the disease as well as those at risk. Unique naming opportunities at the Pavilion are still available. Please call Stanton Collemer at 561-833-6333 for more information.

Photo Caption:  Lingard and Jacqueline Klein, sponsors of the "Hats Off to You" luncheon and Suzette W. Wexner, president and CEO of Palm Healthcare Foundation

About Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc.
Palm Healthcare Foundation, Inc., chartered in 2001, is Palm Beach County’s leading public healthcare foundation. Believing that “Together We Can Do More,” the foundation’s mission is to bring people together to improve health and strengthen health professions. To fulfill its mission, the foundation’s funding priorities support: innovative, collaborative solutions for community health challenges; increasing access to healthcare; and policy and advocacy efforts that improve the health of our citizens. Since 2001, the Foundation has distributed more than $20 million to over 80 non-profit organizations in Palm Beach County operating over 130 programs that met its funding goals. To learn more about Palm Healthcare Foundation, please visit www.palmhealthcare.org