Michelle Hagerty, who gave the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County a boost by leading a $374,000 fundraiser in October, loves being at the Boca Raton location. Photo provided by Jack Packard
By Suzanna Boden
For Boca Raton resident Michelle Hagerty, giving back to her community gives her a sense of purpose.
Hagerty began her first year of serving the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County by contributing to a record-breaking fundraiser, as chairwoman of the fifth annual Securing Our Future Soiree. More than $374,000 was raised for the nonprofit’s hunger relief initiatives.
“I had a great team of people help me put the event together,” Hagerty said. “It was a really positive experience.”
About 15 people on various committees, including planning, decor, sponsorships, and silent and live auctions, had a hand in organizing the event, which was held Oct. 26 at the
Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club in Boca Raton. More than 220 guests attended.
The mission of the Boys and Girls Clubs is to help young people reach their full potential. The organization provides a world-class club experience that ensures success for each member. It aims to keep youngsters on track to graduate from high school, as well as assisting with planning for their futures.
Hagerty is most involved with the Boca Raton location, off Federal Highway north of Yamato Road. It gives children a safe place to go to work on their homework and participate in sports. Tutors are on hand to assist with lessons, and the club has a snack and dinner component. About 75 children attend the after-school program daily.
“It’s a place that keeps kids safe and allows them to build good character and maintain a healthy lifestyle,” Hagerty said. “I am becoming more involved because of the event and the friends I’ve made at the organization. I really love going there; it’s such a wonderful place.”
Hagerty, 44, graduated from the University of Southern Maine, where she earned a degree in sociology. Her family owned and operated White Rock Distilleries, where she started selling liquor to bars, restaurants and distilleries after she earned her degree. The family business was sold in 2008.
She and her husband, Michael, met in Fort Lauderdale in 2006 and moved to Boca Raton in 2008. The couple have two children, ages 12 and 14, who attend Saint Andrew’s School in Boca Raton, where Hagerty is a board member.
She is also on the foundation boards of Boca Raton Regional Hospital and Nicklaus Children’s Hospital in Miami. She and her husband also support Florida Atlantic University athletics.
“I think it’s my responsibility, as a citizen of Boca Raton and the surrounding areas, to serve the community,” she said. “I especially enjoy dedicating and serving my time to underserved children. Since my kids are in school, I want to use my time to better my community and beyond.”
Jaene Miranda, president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, was delighted with the turnout at the 2023 fundraiser and she is excited that Hagerty will serve as chairwoman for the sixth annual event.
“Michelle has been a true champion in carrying out our mission, which is to serve those kids who really need us most,” Miranda said. “We have 20 Boys and Girls Clubs in Palm Beach County, and our service to the various communities only exists because community members like Michelle get engaged with our organization.
“Her support was evident through the phenomenal results we had at the soiree event, not only because of the money raised, but also because of the new friends she helped us connect with in the city of Boca Raton.”
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