By Amy Woods
August in Boca Raton used to comprise 31 dragging, dripping, doldrum-like days. Not anymore. The month will outshine the summer sun with the arrival of Boca Chamber Festival Days.
The annual event that pairs for-profit businesses with nonprofit organizations and raises awareness, funds and support for local charities has transformed the off-season.
“The slow month of August is no longer slow,” said Sarah Pearson, senior vice president of external relations for the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a way for us to keep the economy going, keep people out and about.”
City residents definitely will have a reason to be out and about this month as more than 30 social gatherings are on the calendar.
The first fundraiser took place a few days early — July 28 — with Women in Distress of Broward County’s Clothes off Our Backs donation drive for needy families.
Other events planned for the month range from the well-known White Coats-4-Care Reception benefiting Florida Atlantic University’s Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, to the always-entertaining Boca’s Got Talent! benefiting the Multiple Sclerosis Foundation.
Boca Ballet Theatre’s Summer Spectacular — Works of American Masters, Tri-County Animal Rescue’s Dog Days of Summer and the League of Ribbons’ FondueRaiser add to the well-rounded schedule of activities.
“It’s just a focused way to give back in general,” Pearson said. “That’s why I think it’s different. Some events are fun. Some are serious. Some make you cry. It’s pretty amazing.”Jon Sahn has chaired Boca Chamber Festival Days for three consecutive years and said the 2015 installment promises to be one of the best.
“Over the last three years, we’ve really kicked it up with the enthusiasm and the events,” Sahn said. “Obviously, the goal is to create awareness of all the amazing not-for-profits that we have that are part of the chamber.”
The chamber helps forge partnerships between event-sponsoring for-profits and reward-reaping nonprofits and also markets and promotes the festival online and through social media. A breakfast kicked it all off to the 1,500 members.
“By creating awareness, you’re creating opportunities for bringing new donors to these charities, bringing new volunteers to these charities, bringing board members and resources to these charities,” Sahn said. “If you are involved in something that makes your community better, it’s good for business.”
He said he plans to attend at least 25 events.
“Philanthropy and community involvement is something that I believe in,” Sahn said. “This is like the best time of the year for me.”
Boca Festival Days
August 1-8
Saturday - 8/1-2 - Summer Spectacular: Works of American Masters at FAU University Theatre, 777 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Presented by Boca Ballet Theatre. Sat 7:30 pm; Sun 2 pm. $35/adults, $25/seniors & children. 995-0709; bocaballet.org.
Monday - 8/3 - 5th Annual White Coats-4-Care Reception at Waterstone Resort & Marina Atlantic Ballroom, 999 E Camino Real, Boca Raton. Benefits FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine. Tickets start at $105. 297-2984; fauf.fau.edu/WC4C
Tuesday - 8/4 - A Night of Brazilian Jazz at ZinBurger at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Rd. Benefits Rotary Club of Boca Raton West scholarship fund. 6-7 pm. $25/advance; $35/at the door. 807-6301; bocaratonchamber.com
Wednesday -8/5 - Salsa Night at Boca Raton Children’s Museum, 498 Crawford Blvd. Benefits the Children’s Museum. 6-9 pm. $35-$45/advance; $30-$50 at the door. 368-6875; cmboca.org
Thursday - 8/6 - Summer Night Out at Embassy Suites, 661 NW 53rd St, Boca Raton. Presented by and benefits Gift of Life Bone Marrow Foundation. Features entertainer Glenn Miller, Mastery of Comedy Hypnosis. 6:30-9 pm. $30-$50/advance; $40/person at the door. 800-9MARROW; giftoflife.org.
Friday - 8/7 - Heart of Boca Celebration at Heartland Rehabilitation, 7225 Boca del Mar Dr, Boca Raton. Celebrates 100 years of Historic Pearl City; benefits Macedonia A.M.E. Church, the oldest church in Boca Raton. 4-7 pm. 4-7 pm. $25/advance; $30/at the door. 395-4433; bocaratonchamber.com
August 9-15
Monday - 8/10 - Margarita Monday at Rocco’s Tacos & Tequila Bar, 5250 Town Center Cir, Boca Raton. Benefits KidSafe Foundation. 5:30-7:30 pm. $25/advance (includes 2 signature drinks, appetizers). 855-844-SAFE; kidsafefoundation.org
Tuesday - 8/11 - Place of Hope Back to School Pep Rally at Pavilion Grille, Nations Bank Plaza, 301 Yamato Rd, Boca Raton. Benefits Place of Hope Boca Raton to purchase back to school supplies for foster youth. 5:30-7:30 pm. $25/advance; $30/at the door. 483-0962; hopeatrinkercampus.org
Wednesday - 8/12 - Back to School Breakfast at Lakeside Terrace, 7880 Glades Rd, Boca Raton. Hosted by Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce. Benefits Caregiving Youth Project. Honoree: Mary Wong, President, Office Depot Foundation. 7:45-9:15 am. $50/advance; $60/at the door. 391-7401; bocachamber.com
8/12 - Dog Days of Summer Cooking Class at Publix Aprons Cooking School Polo Club Shoppes, 5050 Champion Blvd, Boca Raton. Benefits Tri-County Humane Society. 5:30-6:15 pm meet and greet adorable dogs; 6:30-8:30 pm all-inclusive 3-course dinner. $50. 482-8110; tricountyanimalrescue.com
Thursday 8/13 - Football Fever at Community Table, 1901 Boca Raton Blvd. Benefits MorseLife. Chance drawings and giveaways. 5:30; game time 8pm. $20/at the door (includes 2 soft drinks, pizza). 687-5743; web.bocaratonchamber.com
Friday - 8/14 - The Symphonia Sizzles/Classical Music is Cool at Blue Martini at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Rd. Benefits The Symphonia. 5:30-7:30 pm. $20 (includes one drink, appetizers). 376-3848; thesymphonia.org
Saturday - 8/15 - Guided Tour Boca Raton Resort & Club at 501 E Camino Real. Hosted by Boca Raton Historical Society. Not recommended for children under 12. Held again 8/22 & 29. 2 pm. $15/person + $11 valet fee. Reservations required: 395-6766 x107; tours@bocahistory.org
August 16-22
Monday - 8/17 - 2nd Annual Boca’s Got Talent at Dubliner Irish Pub, 435 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Hosted by and benefits Multiple Sclerosis Foundation. 5:30-7 pm. $20 (includes one drink, appetizers). 954-776-6805; talent@plumproductionsmedia.com
Tuesday - 8/18 - Movers and Shakers at DaVinci’s of Boca at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Rd. Benefits Golden Bell Education Foundation. 5:30-7:30 pm. $30/advance; $35/at the door. 395-4433 x232; sderos@bocachamber.com
Wednesday - 8/19 - Light Up the Night at Prime Cigar & Wine Bar, 2240 NW 19th St, Boca Raton. Benefits Junior Achievement of South Florida. Silent auction. 6-9 pm. $25-125/advance; $50-150/at the door (includes 2 drinks, cigar, hor d’oeuvres). 954-979-7124; jacqueline@jasouthflorida.org
Friday- 8/21 - Boca PAL’s Crime Scene Challenge meets at Whole Foods, 1400 Glades Rd. Benefits Boca Raton Police Athletic League. Solve crimes by earning clues at various locations around town. 1-5 pm. $50. 239-5483; bocaratonchamber.com
8/21 - Battle of the Bartenders at M.E.A.T. Eatery, 980 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. All tips and portion of proceeds benefit Best Foot Forward Foundation. 5:30-7:30 pm. $25/advance; $30/at the door (includes 2 drinks, appetizers). 470-8300; bestfoot.org
Saturday- 8/22 - Wine & All That Jazz at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E Camino Real. Boca Festival Days signature event. 7-10 pm. $75/regular; $120/VIP. 395-4433; bocaratonchamber.com
August 23-29
Monday- 8/24 - Martini Monday at Excel Auto Group, 1001 Clint Moore Rd, Boca Raton. Benefits The Arc of Palm Beach County. 6-8 pm. $25. 842-3213 x128; arcpbc.org
8/24 - Woman Volunteer of the Year Kickoff at Max’s Grille, 404 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Kickoff party for Junior League of Boca Raton Woman Volunteer of the Year luncheon to be held 11/8. 6-8 pm. $40. jlbr.org
Tuesday - 8/25 - 4th Annual FondueRaiser at The Melting Pot. 5455 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. 35% of sales + 100% of “Ribbontini” cocktail sales benefit the League of Ribbons, Lynn Cancer Institute. 4:30-10 pm. Reservations (mention “Dip for LCI”): 997-7472; meltingpot.com/boca-raton
Wednesday - 8/26 - Lip Sync Battle at Blue Martini at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Rd. Benefits Nat King Cole Generation Hope. 6:30-8:30 pm. $25/advance; $35/at the door (includes one cocktail, lite bites). 395-4433; bocaratonchamber.com
Thursday- 8/27 - Corks & Canvas at Waterstone Resort & Marina, 999 E Camino Real, Boca Raton. Benefits Twin Palms Center for the Disabled. Local artists display and sell artwork, live and silent auctions, raffle, Hor d’oeuvres, beverage. 6-8 pm. $60/advance; $75 at the door. 391-4874; twinpalmscenter.com
8/27 - The Winner’s Circle at Sports Immortal Museum, 6830 N Federal Hwy, Boca Raton. Sponsored by Seniors Helping Seniors, benefits The Alzheimer’s Association. Silent auction, food, beverages. 7-10 pm. $25/at the door. 395-4433; bocaratonchamber.com
Friday - 8/28 - You Shop, We Build Benefit at Kendra Scott, 411 Plaza Real, Boca Raton. Hosted by Kendra Scott. Benefits Habitat’s mission to build homes, communities and hope. 6-9 pm. Call/check website for details. 819-6070; habitatsouthpalmbeach.org
8/28 - Boca’s Ballroom Battle at Boca Raton Resort & Club, 501 E Camino Real. Benefits George Snow Scholarship Fund. 6-10 pm. Tickets start at $175. 347-6799; scholarship.org
August 30-September 5
Sunday - 8/30 - 9th Annual Bowling for Bread at Strikes @ Boca, 21046 Commercial Tr, Boca Raton. Benefits Boca Helping Hands. Canned/packaged food donations welcome. Individuals, teams, businesses raise funds. 2-5 pm. $50-$600. 367-1193; bocahelpinghands.org
Monday - 8/31 - Zinburger Bash for the Red Cross at Zinburger Wine & Burger Bar at Town Center Boca Raton, 6000 Glades Rd. Benefits American Red Cross. Generous sampling of burgers, salads, side dishes, milkshakes. 6-8 pm. $15. 650-9315; rdcrss.org/1BVMbaZ
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