The Hanley Center Foundation’s annual Family Picnic will celebrate its 20th anniversary this year. The event includes VIP seats for world-class equestrian show jumping, animal encounters, crafts, adult and kid-themed silent auctions, children’s activities and a buffet luncheon. The benefit takes place on Sunday, Feb. 22, from noon to 2:30 p.m., and raises money for substance abuse prevention programs in local schools.
Held under a ringside tent at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center in Wellington, the benefit offers the perfect opportunity for families to come together for a day of fun — a key activity for preventing future substance abuse, according to Hanley Center Foundation CEO Dr. Rachel Docekal.
“We know that spending time with your children today helps you stay connected tomorrow,” Docekal said. “Seventy-two percent of kids in families who don’t eat dinner together are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol and drugs. We are so grateful to this event’s great leadership of all ages, and we hope families will see the picnic event as the perfect opportunity to spend a really fun day together and reinforce that family time is time well spent, all while benefiting an important cause.”
The Family Picnic committee is led by chairs Val Perez and Denise Groo, with niece Madeline Perez; Dena and Bill Foman with children Jackson, Walter and Xavier Foman, and Clayton Gause; and Michelle and Bob Diffenderfer with daughters Hope and Lily. Honorary chairmen are Sheriff Ric and Dorothy Bradshaw, with grandsons Landon Branch and Noah LoFaso; and honorary media chairs are WPTV NewsChannel 5’s Roxanne Stein and Sunny 107.9FM’s Deena Lang.
The Hanley Center Foundation provides scholarships for patients who could not otherwise afford addiction treatment. In addition, the foundation supports substance abuse prevention and education programs for parents, caregivers and school-aged children.
Tickets to the event are $195 for adults (18 and over), $50 per child (4 to 17 years of age), and children 3 and under are free. To purchase tickets, call (561) 309-1930 or visit www.hanleycenterfoundation.org/familypicnic. Sponsorships for the event are still available.
ABOVE: Honorary Chairs Sheriff Ric and Dorothy Bradshaw with grandson Noah LoFaso. PHOTOGRAPHY BY LILA PHOTO
