By Marci Shatzman
The “Oscars” for community service in Boca Raton, this year’s 27th OPAL Awards were red carpet worthy from the seven honorees to the gala’s fashions.
Videos, intros and heartfelt thank yous inspired more than 350 guests at The Rotary Club of Boca Raton’s gala fundraiser for student college, trade and certification scholarships at Boca West Country Club. OPAL co-chair Jan Savarick started off the proceedings by asking scholarship winners to stand. OPAL co-chair Neil Saffer conducted a live auction for everything from cruises courtesy of Scott Grody Travel, to local dinners and trips to Napa and Tuscany, plus a call for donations.
Artist, jeweler and sculptor Yaacov Heller introduced fellow club member, multiple Emmy Award-winning executive producer and entrepreneur Bob Buruchian, who brought his whole family and professional team. Bob got a standing ovation as the club’s annual Lifetime Legacy Award honoree.
Others receiving Outstanding People and Leaders Awards also represented the next generation of volunteerism and philanthropy. Honorees Diane and Larry Feldman’s sons Adam, Daniel and Jonathan introduced their parents as passing along their “legacy of love” for their support of nonprofits such as Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County and Jewish Family Service. “We are here because it’s God decree that for those who much is given, much is expected,” said Larry Feldman, formerly known here as Mr. Subway for his association with the sandwich chain.
Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation president Mark Larkin showed a large sheaf of paper to illustrate the range of honorees Carrie Rubin and her dad Marvin Rubin’s volunteer and fundraising efforts. Chairing this year’s Go Pink luncheon that raised $2.6 million for the hospital’s breast cancer care and research, Carrie added their Fuller Center connections.
OPAL honorary chair Christine E. Lynn introduced much honored Marti LaTour and George Elmore, who have a countywide philanthropic reach in 70 nonprofits including FAU Tech Runway. Announcing he just turned 95, “it’s our responsibility to give back,” Elmore said.
Savarick and Saffer paid tribute to the late Spencer Siegel, their longtime OPAL co-chair, whose wife Dara and their children where there, and that Rotary’s club’s president Kristine Amorello. Tributes for others lost in 2024 went to Arthur Adler, founder of Boca West Children’s Foundation, and Helen Babione, Soroptimist Club founder who was active in many nonprofits and St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church.
New faces included Bob Goldfarb, a custom clothier who contributed to Saffer’s live auction, and FAU’s incoming College of Nursing dean Cameron Duncan.
Chris Maners, who’s chairing this Rotary Club’s “Future Stars Performing Arts Competition” in April, was proud his talented daughter Juliette Maners, a college senior, sang at the cocktail hour. She’s Broadway bound. https://rotaryclubbocaraton.com/event/future-stars-competition/
Past OPAL honorees attended and were recogized, among them Marta with Jim Batmasian, Suzy Broad, city council member Fran and Dr. Nathan Nachlas, Laura Reiss, Greg Hazle and Terry Fedele. Presenting sponsors for this year’s OPALs were Christine E. Lynn and Amy and Mike Kazma.
Other speakers and guests included Mayor Scott Singer, who declared Jan. 11 OPAL Honoree Day, former county attorney Dave Aronberg, and past Rotary District 6930 governor and the The Rotary Club Boca Raton West founder Douglas Heizer, who conducts Rotary’s annual holiday toy drive, and his wife Dini, the club’s vice president. Heizer publishes The Boca Raton Tribune.
The Rotary Club of Boca Raton meets for lunch at noon every Wednesday at Crazy Uncle Mike’s, 6450 N. Federal Highway, the venue for many nonprofit fundraisers. Restaurant owner Mike Goodwin and his wife Camilla were among the guests.
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