The Palm Beach American Cancer Society held a Mardi Gras Gala for its annual fundraiser and transported their guests to the heart of the French Quarter for all the pageantry, beauty, magic and fun of the real thing. Palm Beach resident and American Cancer Society board member and patron, Leo Albert provided a "save the day" last minute donation that helped the gala chairmen raise more than $2 million for the evening. Funds raised support cancer research education programs and patient services in Palm Beach County.

Dame Celia Lipton Farris and Leo Albert

Tom Quick, Jill Rau and Paula Zukov served as chairs for the Gala. Dame Celia Lipton Farris was Honorary Chairman and Chairman Emeritus. National Honorary Chair was Gloria Wolosoff.  Honorary Vice Chair was Patrick Park. Cece Farris was Young Friends Chairman, with Michele and Craig Millard as Advisory chairs.

Now in its 47th year, the annual Cancer Ball has a loyal roster of generous supporters. Norma and Simon Fireman were Ambassadors of Hope. Florence and Lawrence De George were International Honorary Chairs for 2005. Grand Benefactors were Leo and Anne Albert, Beverly and Barry Crown, Michelle and Craig Millard, Anne and George Lichtblau and Tom Quick. Grand Patrons were Elizabeth and Charles Bowden Jr., George Cloutier, Darlene and Jerry Jordan, Michelle and Howard Kessler, Sydell Miller and Regina Quick. Chopard USA was a continuing generous supporter and donated a diamond "H" watch for the live auction and goodie bags for the guests.

Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan and pop singer sensation Ricky Martin were among the hundreds of guests attending The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children’s inaugural gala fundraiser held a few weeks ago at The Breakers Hotel in Palm Beach.

Ricky Martin was the event’s Goodwill Ambassador. Mr. Martin has become a leading spokesperson in the fight against child sexual exploitation, and was recently named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.

Brent Nestor, Anne Marie, and Stephen Haymes

Also in attendance were Mexico First Lady Marta Sahagun de Foz, Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia Soemadi Djoko Moerjono Brotodiningrat, Belgian Ambassador Baron and Baroness von Daele, Yemen Ambassador Al-Hajjri, and Belize Ambassador Lisa Shoman, among others.

The International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children was created in 1998 to lead the first coordinated, global response to protect children from abduction and sexual exploitation via a global network of organizations.

Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, the widow of the late King of Jordan (1935-1999), is an international humanitarian activist and an outspoken voice on issues of world peace and justice. Her Majesty was born Lisa Najeeb Halaby in 1951, to an Arab-American family distinguished for its public service. Since 1978, she has initiated, directed, and sponsored projects and activities in Jordan to address specific development needs in the areas of education, culture, women and children’s welfare, sustainable community development, environmental conservation, human rights, and conflict resolution. She has also worked closely with the United Nations and other international organizations to address global challenges in these fields.

The event’s Honorary Chairperson Dame Celia Lipton Farris shares Queens Noor’s concerns. She has been a devout and generous supporter of the ICMEC from its inception, expressing concern as a parent, grandparent and international citizen.

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