SUPPORT “BUBBLES OVER” FOR SOUTH FLORIDA SCIENCE MUSEUM
PALM BEACH – Virtually nothing kept guests from bubbling over with support when the South Florida Science Museum hosted “Bubbles on the Beach,” a thank you party for donors who had purchased tickets for the gala that never was. The Bubbles party, held on April 10th, raised over $250,000 for the Museum.
Held at the Palm Beach oceanfront estate of Dr. Carter and Afsy Pottash, “Bubbles on the Beach” served as an end-of-season celebration party for Museum supporters of the 23rd Annual Diamond Constellation Ball, the annual soiree which went virtual this season.
According to Museum Trustee Julie Rudolph, organizers of the Constellation Ball decided to skip all of the associated steps of producing a gala this season and instead invited Museum supporters to a private home for an informal and completely underwritten evening of camaraderie and champagne.
“Bubbles were floating everywhere – from the front door, over the staircase, the silent auction tables and loggias,” noted Mrs. Rudolph, who along with Peggy Brown, Sydelle Meyer and Kathryn Vecellio served as honorary chairmen of the event. Dr. and Mrs. Pottash chaired and hosted the party, which included live and silent auctions, live entertainment, dancing, hors d’oeuvres and lots of bubbly.
“We wanted this year’s Gala event to enable the majority of funds raised to support science education,” she continued. “By going virtual, our guests stayed home on the night of the gala, knowing they helped children in our community discover the magic of science.”
Gala benefactors include: Peggy Brown; Sydelle Meyer; PNC Bank; Afsy and Dr. Carter Pottash; Julie and Howard Rudolph; Mark Stevens; and Kathryn and Leo Vecellio, Jr. Sponsors of this evening included: AT&T; Bank of America; Frances and Jeffrey Fisher; Mary and Daniel Fountain; Seymour “Zoom” Fleisher; Gunster Attorneys at Law; Dale Hedrick; Mary Hulitar; Julie and John Kime; Helene and Matthew Lorentzen; Heidi and John Niblack; Scripps Florida; and Lourdes and Stephen Vogelsang.
Palm Beach County Sheriff Ric Bradshaw served as emcee and auctioneer at the event. Attending the party were: Dr. Rachel and Steve Docekal, Linda and Edward Dweck, Frances and Jeffrey Fisher, Janie and Jon Fogt, Mary and Dan Fountain, Cathy and Dale Hedrick, Tricia and Rick Keitel, Julie and John Kime, Helene and Matt Lorentzen, Heidi and John Niblack, Harvey Oyer III and Monique Merrill, Beth Pine, Monika and John Preston, Julie and Bob Reverly David Rinker, Julie and Howard Rudolph, Leslie and Ronald Schram, Mary Sellers, Mark Stevens and Sonja Abrahamsen, Kathryn and Leo Vecellio, Lisa and Claes Wahlestedt and West Palm Beach Mayor Lois Frankel among others.
The South Florida Science Museum provides curious minds of all ages with an entertaining and educational journey through science and technology. Located in West Palm Beach, the museum features more than 50 hands-on exhibits, a digital planetarium, freshwater and saltwater aquariums, as well as natural history exhibitions.
Each year the museum welcomes more than 120,000 visitors and reaches more than 55,000 students through workshops at the museum and outreach programs to local schools. Established in 1961, the museum is a non-profit organization dedicated to exciting curiosity and furthering the understanding and appreciation of science and technology.
For more information on South Florida Science Museum programs and offerings, please reach 561.832.1988 or visit www.sfsm.org.
