Women of Grace chairwomen Nicole Pasqual and Kimberley Trombly-Burmeister. Photo by Downtown Photo
By Amy Woods
The 17th installment of the Women of Grace luncheon will be a wonder of white Nov. 10, when guests gather to raise money for the Bethesda Hospital Foundation wearing their best white frocks.
The charity event annually honors five female volunteers whose commitment to service has changed lives and improved communities. This season, the women will be celebrated by an audience in shades of cream, eggshell and ivory.
“We thought we’d do something different to bring attention to the event,” luncheon Chairwoman Nicole Pasqual said. “As a committee, we try to outdo ourselves every year.”
The white theme will extend to one of the luncheon’s raffle items — a premier table for 12, decorated accordingly. The lucky ticketholder, and all others in his or her party, will get to move to the table and enjoy an upgraded menu, a VIP swag bag and an overnight package at The Breakers, sponsor of the prize.
Additional raffle items include jewelry, travel and other extravagant offerings that will help Pasqual and her committee meet their $400,000 goal. Money has been earmarked for the purchase of a suite of maternity beds and sleeper sofas at Bethesda Health’s Center for Women & Children.
“The hospital usually gives us something to raise money for,” she said. “In the past, it’s been the NICU, but now we’re kind of done with that effort.”
Co-Chairwoman Kimberley Trombly-Burmeister said the maternity ward is one of the busiest in the county, bringing more than 3,000 babies into the world each year, many of whom are critically ill or premature.
“I’m passionate about the cause — health and life and [being a] mother,” Trombly-Burmeister said. “I am all those things.”
The 2016 Women of Grace are: Nancy Dockerty, for the Delray Beach Public Library; Betti Lidsky, for Hope for Vision; Valerie Mathieu, for Caps of Love; Michelle Suskauer, for the Legal Aid Society of Palm Beach County; and Diane Wilde for Dress for Success Palm Beaches. They were selected from more than 35 nominees.
“We celebrate volunteerism, and we honor local women who have just done amazing things,” Trombly-Burmeister said. “Everybody who comes to this luncheon, when they leave, they leave basically saying, ‘I need to do more.’ ”
If You Go
What: Women of Grace Luncheon
When: 10:30 a.m. Nov. 10 reception, 11:30 a.m. luncheon
Where: The Mar-a-Lago Club, 1100 S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach
Cost: $160
Info: Call 732-7733, Ext. 84445, or visit www.bethesda hospitalfoundation.org
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