A real sheriff, fancy boots and Stetsons helped a Boca scholarship fund successfully fundraise Saturday.
George Snow Scholarship Fund supporters, including Sheriff Ric Bradshaw, donned western gear for the annual Rhinestone Cowboy Ball.
This was a fun night with western dancing and a mechanical bucking bronco. But first things first. Paige Kornblue and WPTV weatherman Glenn Glazer reprised their role as Snow’s Boca’s Ballroom Battle fundraiser emcees.
Fund president Tim Snow and board chairman Al Travasos presented a belt buckle award to real estate broker and sponsor Matthew Maschler. Presenting sponsor Whelchel Partners’ Jay Whelchel and Kristy Whelchel Hartofilis were honored, too. Glad to see their mom, former Mayor Susan Whelchel there and decked out in denim.
Fran Nachlas and Eddie Ventrice, Ballroom Battle 2019 biggest fundraisers, introduced seven dancers for 2020. They include Melissa Darnell, automotive dealer Teddy Morse, Kirsten Stanley, Boca Regional Hospital COO Mindy Shikiar, NCCI CEO William Donnell. Also Robin Bresky and Steven Bernstein. Nachlas and Ventrice will co-chair Boca’s version of “Dancing With the Stars” Sept. 25.
Don Cadet, a Snow scholarship recipient and biology major at FAU, talked about sleeping in a car his freshman year. Then the fund and his mentor stepped in to “help an underprivileged kid like myself.” Now he hopes to become a doctor.
Auctioneer Neil Saffer drummed up more funds with a live auction including Sheriff for a Day. Victoria Matthews took a bow as event chairwoman for the second year.
Among the other sponsors were Kaufman Lynn Construction, Robin and Charles Deyo, Amy and Mike Kazma, Marta and Jim Batmasian. Also Pinnacle Advertising, and founder and CEO Peter Gary, a Snow trustee, was there.
The event moved to the Boca Raton Resort & Club this year, the venue sponsor.
Afterward, the mechanical bucking bronco attracted lots of takers, male and female. Deputy Mayor Jeremy Rodgers rode twice, and Jackie Reeves took a turn wearing thigh-high rhinestone boots. It was that kind of evening.
Click here to view a video of a line-dancing lesson at the Rhinestone Cowboy Ball.
By Marci Shatzman
