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The Florida Grantor, Spring 2008

The Able Trust 10th Annual Gala A Record Breaking Success

On Saturday, March 1, 2008 The Able Trust celebrated an amazing 10 years of fundraising success at The Mar-a-Lago Club with the "Reflections of India" Gala. The Able Trust 10th Anniversary Gala proved to be the most successful for the organization to date. The Gala raised nearly $535,000 in cash & in kind support for The Able Trust and its youth programs -a record achievement for the event thus far. This year's gala, "Reflections of India" was a labor of love and dedication by a very special group of individuals.

Making up the 10th Anniversary gala committee this year included Cathy Polselli, Michele Jacobs, Florence Seiler, Fonda Lee, Margarita Abrishami, Madelyn Christopher, Kerry M. Perl, Peter & Cari Belisi, Paul Martinelli, Michele Sachuk, Vanessa Beyer, Robert L. Billingslea, Arielle Sutton, Steven Siegel, Monique Perry and Matthew L. Burton. Leading this extraordinary team of people to success were the 2008 Gala Chairs Dr. Sheila Buchbinder and her husband Dr. David Befeler.

This year The Able Trust looked back on ten years of life changing programs and granting opportunities to individuals and nonprofit agencies that assist Florida citizens with disabilities with entering the workforce. The Foundation serves nearly 2,500 youth with disabilities each year with the expansion of The Able Trust youth programs: High School/High Tech, the Florida Youth Leadership Forum, e-Mentoring and Disability Mentoring Day.

One great highlight of the evening was the surprise entrance of a very special guest and long time supporter, Mr. Mickey Mouse. Never having attended a charity gala before, he came to Palm Beach to congratulate The Able Trust and to express his joy for 10 years of a wonderful partnership between the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort and The Able Trust.

The Able Trust would like to thank the amazing supporters and sponsors of this year's gala including: Dr. Sheila Buchbinder & Dr. David Befeler; Mr. & Mrs. Timothy G. Rothwell; Sanofi Aventis; Tire Kingdom, Schering-Plough Corporation; Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida; Bobbie Bailey Design Group; VIVE Magazine; WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort; Barrier Wall of South Florida, Sandy and Jerry Hanzel; JFK Medical Center; Obagi; Tatiana & Campion Platt; Schumacher of the Palm Beaches; The Gardens Mall; Belisi; Bombay Sapphire; Darden Restaurants and Advantage Services.Net.

Join us as we travel to a new destination for The Able Trust 11th Annual Gala- March 21, 2009! To learn more about The Able Trust 10th annual gala or to view a gallery of photos, please visit www.abletrustgala.org.