Kravis Center

Kravis Center’s Major Donors Enjoy

Special Dinner & the Joffrey Ballet



(West Palm Beach, FL – March 17, 2010)  Nearly 200 of the Kravis Center’s major donors attended a recent dinner in the Weiner Banquet Center’s Gimelstob Ballroom in the Cohen Pavilion, prior to enjoying an electrifying performance by the Joffrey Ballet.



This annual dinner honors Founder Members and Grand Sponsor, Sponsor and Patron members of the Kravis Center’s Dress Circle. Northern Trust sponsored the first Founders Dinner 14 years ago and has continued this fine tradition every year since. Alec & Sheila Engelstein and Allen & Zelda Mason sponsored the Joffrey Ballet performance.  



The gorgeous black and white décor, complete with displays of white hydrangea accented with white roses, was by Xquisite Events. The superb dinner was prepared by Special Impressions at the Kravis Center, Catering by The Breakers.



In his welcoming remarks, Kravis Center Chairman William A. Meyer praised the attendees for their “generous support and loyalty to the Center…  We could never put on the world class entertainment we do without your contributions.”



Because the Kravis Center doesn’t break even on ticket sales alone, regardless of how many events take place, the nonprofit organization needs to raise a minimum of $4.3 million each year to support the operations and facilities of the Center.



In just the last five months alone, the Kravis Center has hosted 178 different performances in Dreyfoos Hall and the Rinker Playhouse, and another 192 educational events for thousands of school-age students.



“Many of these performances were sold out so we know we are providing the kind of performing arts that (people) want to see,” said Mr. Meyer. “Last season was the first year of Kravis On Broadway and there were 4,200 subscribers, yet we’ll end the 2009/2010 season with more than 7,300 subscriptions.”



In addition, the Kravis Center recently announced a wonderful line-up of smash hit musicals for the 2010/2011 season:  Dreamgirls, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, the New Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein, West Side Story and The Color Purple.



Mr. Meyer thanked loyal supporter Northern Trust, the event’s sponsor, which has contributed to every one of the Kravis Center’s fundraising campaigns since the original building campaign in 1992 when “we were just a hole in the ground.”



Michael Bracci, President of Northern Trust, reiterated the importance of corporate support for nonprofit institutions like the Kravis Center, describing it as instrumental to the economic stability of the community by helping businesses such as hotels, restaurants and other local suppliers of goods and services to the Center.



For more information on Kravis Center membership, please contact the Center’s Development Office at 561-651-4320.



Media Contact:

Gary Schweikhart

PR-BS, Inc.

561.756.4298

gary@pr-bs.net



ATTACHED JPEGS:

(All IDS are L-R;

Photos by Corby Kaye, Studio Palm Beach)



1.    Tripp & Jane Moore, Michael Bracci

2.    Allen & Zelda Mason

3.    Alec & Sheila Engelstein

4.    Denise & William Meyer

5.    Mary & Mark Freitas, Nancy & Bill Rollnick

6.    Sharyn & Stuart Frankel, Marilyn & Leon Silverman

7.    Jerome & Dr. Barbara Golden

8.    Carolyn & Richard Sloane

9.    John Pavela, Cristine Myer, Jo Ellen & Michael Dyer

10.  Alec & Miriam Flamm