Over 500 people are anticipated to join Women In Distress of Broward County, Inc. to raise funds to aid families affected by domestic violence and recognize special honorees at the Fifth Annual Starfish Luncheon presented by Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company on Wednesday, May 18, 2011, at the Signature Grand. The Silent Auction will begin at 11 am, followed by the program and luncheon beginning at 12 noon. Individual luncheon tickets are $80, table sponsorships are $1,500, and full color journal ads start at just $100.
The event will honor special supporters who have made significant contributions to Women In Distress through their time, talent, and resources. The 2011 honorees are:
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- Leadership Award: Sr. Rita Levasseur/Sisters of Mercy /Holy Cross Hospital
- Community Partner: Sheriff Al Lamberti and Broward Sheriff’s Office
- Corporate Citizen: Publix Super Markets, Inc.
- Starfish Award: Presented to a survivor of domestic violence
Event planning efforts are led by Event Chairs Gale Butler (AutoNation, Inc.) and Jen Klaassens (The Wasie Foundation). Current major supporters include Presenting Sponsor Wachovia, A Wells Fargo Company and Contributing Sponsors AutoNation, Inc., JM Family/SE Toyota, Lorraine Thomas, Signature Grand, and Sun Sentinel. Other supporters include AT&T, Citrix, Konica Minolta, Memorial Healthcare System, Patriot Risk Management, and The Wasie Foundation. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, call Courtney Holshouser at (954) 760-9800 x. 1253.
The popular starfish story is as follows, “A young girl and her grandmother were walking down the beach. It was a beautiful afternoon and the tide had pulled back leaving hundreds of starfish stranded on the sand. The girl began to run around, picking up the starfish and throwing them back into the water. Her grandmother laughed at her efforts and said “Why do you run about? There are hundreds of starfish and you are wasting your time. You can’t possibly make a difference here.” Her granddaughter stopped, looked carefully at the starfish in her hand and threw it back into the water. She said “Grandma, that may be the case for all of them, but I can make a difference for that one.”
This story, inspired by the writing of Loren Eiseley, exemplifies how each and every one of us can make a difference-one person at a time. Following that theme, the Starfish Luncheon honors those who are making a difference in the lives of domestic violence victims in Broward County.
Funds raised through the luncheon will support the Women In Distress emergency shelter and supportive services to victims and their children in addition to domestic violence prevention and education activities surrounding domestic violence. For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit www.womenindistress.org or call 954-760-9800.