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Renowned portrait artist and event founder Renee D. Plevy, and co-chair Kim Champion of the annual Portrait of a Woman Luncheon, announced that Palm Beach philanthropist Irma Anapol has been named the Grand Matriarch of the third annual luncheon. The honorees representing all four parts of Palm Beach County are Rene Friedman, Marcie Gorman, Caroline Moran and Patricia Thomas.
The luncheon was held at the West Palm Beach Marriott where the 2014 honorees’ oil portraits were unveiled. Tim Byrd was the MC, with entertainment by Dreyfoos School of the Arts and Anthony Espina.

In a prepared statement, the group describes Grand Matriarch Irma Anapol as a woman of valor, a three-time survivor of cancer, and one who has nurtured and supported other survivors on a very personal level as well as being an active woman involved in a multitude of charitable committees, galas, and luncheons. “I can’t think of anyone more worthy to assume the title in 2014 than Irma Anapol,” said Ms. Plevy in the prepared statement. “Her name is synonymous with community philanthropy in Palm Beach County.”
An elegant woman who has many layers, from bringing soup over to an ailing neighbor, to a statuesque society woman, nurturer and fisherman. She has also taken to saving the elm trees back in Nantucket under her mother’s tutelage. For 35-plus years, she has been a supporter of numerous local nonprofit organizations in Palm Beach including the Angels of Charity, MD Anderson, and she recently received the prestigious Grace Hoadley Dodge award by the YWCA.”
The Angels of Charity was an important part of Ms. Anapol’s life, one to which she devoted herself for many years, raising significant funds that were donated to multiple childrenbased charities. The Four distinguished women community leaders who are being honored at the Portrait of a Woman luncheon are:

Rene Friedman of Jupiter/Tequesta. A passionate educator who developed FAU’s Lifelong Learning Society Program on the Jupiter campus, beginning in 1997 with 125 adult students and growing to the current 7,500-plus students and 21,000 registrants last year. Ms. Friedman is on the board of directors at the Lighthouse Art Center, a member of the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches, as well as many other community organizations. She worked at FSU for seven years managing ‘Programming and Special Events’. She volunteered for two years at Tampa General Hospital Burn Unit, and at Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital two nights a week. She was honored at “Junior Achievement’s Watch a Rising Star in 2011” and given the Community Leadership Award for her dedication and service in education 2009-2011 by the Delta Kappa Gamma Organization.

Marcie Gorman, West Palm Beach. Successful business woman, educator, mentor, film producer, actress/singer. She grew her Weight Watchers franchise to 400 employees, seeing 6,000 to 8,000 members a week, sold it, and went back to her first love: education, theatre, acting, and music. Ms. Gormon has won the Executive Women of the Palm Beaches Leadership Award and the Athena Award from the Woman’s Chamber of Commerce, as well as many other honors for supporting and mentoring women in the county. Some of her contributions include: volunteer, producer, mentor, and substitute teacher at the Dreyfoos School of the Arts; executive producer/director of S.M.ir.K. Entertainment LLC; a volunteer at the Kravis Center of the Performing Arts; president of Communities in Schools of PBC; board member of the PBC Film and Television Commission; and she produced and co-directed the movie “The Incubus.”

Caroline Moran of the Wellington area. A professional equestrian and an active Caridad center board member for three years, Ms. Moran said in a prepared statement, “Because it affects and helps the Palm Beach Community as a whole and the equestrian community in particular. The grooms are the unsung heroes in our sport and it is important to me that they have access to proper medical care.”
In addition, she is a big supporter of their Christmas Event. Ms. Moran also hosts a team at the Great Charity Challenge event in Wellington, as well as being a participant. The ‘Moran Family Award for Excellence’ in the horse industry started in 2012, as her family’s way of thanking and encouraging equestrian supportive involvement.

Patricia Thomas of Boca Raton. Volunteering for 35 years in Boca Raton, Ms. Thomas has received the Lifetime Achievement Award, “Woman Volunteer of the Year” awarded by the Boca Raton Junior League, The ‘Woman of Distinction’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by the Boca Raton Soroptimist Organization, and received the ‘Opal Award’ by the Rotary Club of Boca Raton. She is currently serving on the Christine E. Lynn Women’s Wellness advisory committee, a prominent volunteer at Lynn University, and a founding board member of Boca Raton’s Promise for Youth, which currently works on mental health initiative within Palm Beach County Schools. She was also an honoree and has chaired the ‘Honor Your Doctor’ luncheon sponsored by the GFWC Women’s Club of Boca Raton.

“The goal of this annual charitable event is to raise much needed funds for Quantum House while honoring some incredible local ladies during Women’s History Month,” said benefit co-chair Kim Champion in the prepared statement. “This event is our way of saluting special women from throughout Palm Beach County for their major long-term contributions to our overall community, as well as to individuals, businesses, civic organizations and charities.”
Quantum House is a caring and supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment in Palm Beach County for a serious illnesses.

Honorary Chairs for the 2014 “Portrait of a Woman Spring Luncheon” are Sydelle Meyer of Palm Beach and Dorothy Sullivan of West Palm Beach.
Honorary Committee members include Bobbi Horwich, Monika Erickson, Sherry Frankel, Suzy Minkoff, Ruth Young of Palm Beach Melissa Ganzi and Dr. Maria M. Vallejo of Wellington, Helen Babione, Jacie Keeley, Rosemary and Ben Krieger, and Lynda Levitsky of Boca Raton, Shelley Cabagnon, Roberta Jurney, and Jack Schulman