Hanley Foundation Hosting 2nd Annual Boca Celebrity Cookoff

The Hanley Foundation announced this week that their second annual Boca Celebrity Cookoff will be held on Thursday, August 3 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Waterstone Resort and Marina, located at 999 East Camino Real in Boca Raton. A Boca Chamber Festival Days event, combining non-profit and for-profit chamber of commerce members, it will include a gourmet happy hour with appetizers, a signature cocktail and mocktail, raffles and entertainment.

Last year Celebrity Cookoff participants made pizza — this year celebrity cooks will make unique sandwiches of their choosing. The Cookoff will also serve as the kickoff for the 3^rd Annual Brice Makris Brunch.

Troy McLellan, President and CEO of the Greater Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce will judge the cookoff, while Neil Saffer, cofounder and Principal Auctioneer at Saffer & Company, emcees.

Boca celebrities slated to compete in the cookoff include last year’s champion and Florida State Senator Tina Polsky; Marty Haberer, President & CEO of the Adolph & Rose Levis JCC; Brian White, Vice President & Director of Athletics at Florida Atlantic University; and Jan Savarick, CEO, Savarick Consulting Group.

“With community support of the Boca Celebrity Cookoff, the funds raised will go to our Lifesaver Scholarship Program, which restores hope, reunites families and saves lives,” Hanley Foundation’s CEO Rachel Pappert Docekal, MBA, Ed.D. said.

The Brice Makris Brunch will take place on December 10 at Boca West Country Club from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Hanley Foundation Board Member and Boca resident John Makris and his wife Michelle will chair the event that honors their son, Brice Makris, who died in March 2020 from a Fentanyl overdose.

Tragically, overdose rates have skyrocketed, and many people in the community struggle with mental health issues and substance misuse. With the help of the Boca Chamber and the Makris family, Hanley Foundation says it is increasing awareness of substance use disorders in South Palm Beach County.

Proceeds from this Boca Chamber Festival Days event and Hanley Foundation’s Annual Brice Makris Brunch, will make it possible for Hanley Foundation to increase its prevention programming to stop substance use disorder before it begins and provide scholarship programs to provide resources for those who cannot afford the financial burden of recovery.

Celebrity Cookoff sponsors include Waterstone Resort & Marina, Allegiance Home Health, Sipe Spine & Sport, The Nathanson Mortgage Team, and Andee Media.

Tickets are $25 in advance and $40 at the door. Visit Hanley.info/FestivalDays for more information, call 561-268-2355 or email events@hanleyfoundation.org.

Learn more about the Hanley Foundation at hanleyfoundation.org.