All the glamour, excitement and allure of Broadway was on full display at The Parker for the Ghost Light Society’s 15th Anniversary Soirée, presented by UKG.

 

The event, “A Broadway Bash,” raised more than $165,000 to support the Broward Center’s wide variety of initiatives that educate, engage and inspire more than 100,000 Broward County students each year, making it the largest free arts-in-education program in the nation.

 

Lighting up the night in their best black-tie or Broadway character attire, nearly 250 young business leaders and philanthropists walked the red carpet into The Parker for a cocktail reception with live entertainment in the grand S. Donald Sussman Lobby. Guests were then escorted on stage for a NYC-themed culinary feast, dancing and an intimate live performance by Steven Page, a founding member of the legendary Barenaked Ladies.

 

“From the mesmerizing musical performances to the beautiful décor and delectable food, every detail contributed to an unforgettable night. What made this event truly remarkable was not just the celebration, but the fact that we surpassed our fundraising goal, raising more money than ever before for free arts education programming at the Broward Center,” said Heather Geronemus, Senior Director of Social Equity, Opportunity, and Impact at UKG, who co-chaired the event alongside Ashley Boxer, Whitney Dutton, and Ashley Palmer Lindsay. “Being part of the Soirée for so many years has been a tremendous honor. Alongside my co-chairs and so many others in the room, I am incredibly proud of the lasting impact this event has in providing transformative arts education experiences for students in our community.”

 

The event was made possible by a volunteer host committee and the support of more than 50 different sponsors. In addition to Presenting Sponsor UKG, major sponsors included Entertainment Sponsors Charlie & Laura Palmer and Ashley & Matt Lindsay and Platinum Sponsors Akerman LLP, Amazon, AutoNation, The Boxer Strategy and

Whitney Dutton & Family, Broward Health, JM Family Enterprises, Inc., Merrimac Ventures and Kara Perkins.

 

A membership group of the Broward Performing Arts Foundation, the Ghost Light Society’s mission is to engage and inspire a new generation of patrons to take an active role in promoting, celebrating and supporting the performing arts. The group is composed primarily of community leaders and business professionals between the ages of 25–45 who enjoy a variety of exclusive benefits, including access to pre-sale tickets and pre-show cocktail receptions at the Broward Center and the Parker throughout the year. All proceeds from Ghost Light Society memberships and events go to support the Broward Center’s award-winning education programs. For information on joining the Ghost Light Society, visit www.ghostlightsociety.com or email ghostlight@browardcenter.org.

 

Photo credit: Downtown Photo

 

Photos here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/tdeduasehu0gx5ytgd6b7/AOGntw8bpipxGamkXgH5150?rlkey=vd6wd54k1f8v7h0wgxw4gl7eb&st=qrpbcs07&dl=0

 

Photos: L to R:

Photo 1: Heather Geronemus, Steven Page, George Taylor

 

Photo 2: Matt Lindsay, Becky Johnston, Steven Page, Ashley Palmer Lindsay

 

Photo 3: Michael Lessne, Ashley Boxer

 

Photo 4: Whitney Dutton, Paige Dutton

 

Photo 5: Sarah Lis, Kristina Lucia

 

Photo 6: Kevin Fyke, Lauren Fyke, Christie Caliendo, Alishia London, Carey Warburton, Andrea Beck

 

Photo 7: Kenny Mantuo, Lauren Mantuo

 

Photo 8: Julie Brown, Diana Gonzalez, David Mezzanotte, Kara Perkins

 

Photo 9: Kathy Salerno, Stephanie King, Chelsea Koff, Joseph Onorati

 

Photo 10: 2024 Soiree Host Committee

 

About The Broward Center for the Performing Arts

One of America’s premier performing arts venues, the Broward Center for the Performing Arts presents more than 850 performances each year to more than 600,000 patrons, showcasing a wide range of exciting cultural programming and events. Guest experiences at the Broward Center include the all-inclusive Spirit Club Level and Nicklaus Children’s Health System Intermezzo Lounge, special events in the Huizenga Pavilion, waterfront dining at Marti’s New River Bistro and innovative classes and workshops for all ages at the Rose Miniaci Arts Education Center. With one of the largest free arts-in-education programs in the United States, the Broward Center serves more than 100,000 students annually. The Broward Center also manages The Parker in Fort Lauderdale, the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on the campus of Nova Southeastern University, and the Aventura Arts

& Cultural Center in Miami-Dade County. The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is located at 201 SW Fifth Ave. in Fort Lauderdale. For more information, visit BrowardCenter.org.

 

About The Broward Performing Arts Foundation

For nearly 40 years, the Broward Performing Arts Foundation has been instrumental in providing support for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. The Foundation was established in 1985 to deliver the required private funding to build the Center and create an endowment to sustain its operations. Over the years, the Foundation has successfully raised funds to support the Broward Center’s innovative and diverse programming, arts-in-education initiatives, community engagement activities and capital projects. In the decade between 2010 and 2020, the Foundation successfully completed two capital campaigns raising nearly $100 million to restore, renovate and renew the Broward Center campus and the Parker Playhouse (now known as The Parker)