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Second Portrait of a Woman Spring Luncheon
Raises $15,000 for Quantum House

2013 Honorees Were Grand Matriarch Sydelle Meyer and
Ruth Young, Rosemary Krieger & Melissa Potamkin Ganzi

The second Portrait of a Woman Spring Luncheon was held at the Sailfish Club in Palm Beach on March 21. In addition to raising more than $15,000 to benefit Quantum House, the sold-out luncheon celebrated Women’s History Month by honoring some incredible local ladies.

“Our Grand Matriarch this year was Sydelle Meyer, who’s name is synonymous with cultural and community philanthropy in Palm Beach County,” said says benefit founder Renee D. Plevy, a celebrated professional portrait artist who painted and donated each portrait.

“A lover of great art, bright colors and the generous gesture, Sydelle Meyer continues to be an active supporter of numerous local nonprofit organizations from the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County to the Norton Museum of Art, from Alzheimer’s Community Care to the Marshall Foundation for the Everglades to the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts,” added Plevy.

The other three distinguished women honored at the luncheon were:

+ Ruth Young: The Director of Sales & Marketing at The Colony Hotel since 1993, the effervescent and efficient Ruth Young is a Palm Beach fixture. Thanks in part to her work, The Colony was named Hotel of the Year by the Hotel & Lodging Association of Palm Beach County a few months ago, and received the Quintessentially Palm Beach Award from the local Chamber of Commerce as part of last year’s Centennial Celebration. Before joining The Colony, Ms. Young spent six years with Crown Cruise Lines. Currently, she is a member of the Worth Avenue Assn., Palm Beach Business Group, South County Road Assn., Palm Beach Civic Assn., Palm Beach County Cultural Council, Meeting Planners International (MPI) and HSMAI (Hotel Sales & Marketing Association).

+ Rosemary Krieger: Representing Boca Raton and South County and being honored for her extensive volunteer work throughout the community, Rosemary Krieger believes in following the words of Mother Teresa: “It is not what you do, but the love you put into doing; it is not what you give but the love you put in giving.” And she has put a lot of love in doing and giving for such valuable organizations as AVDA, the Soroptimists, the Rotary, St. Vincent de Paul Seminary and the YMCA.

+ Melissa Potamkin Ganzi: Representing the Wellington area, Melissa Ganzi is one of the few female dynamos in the male-dominated world of international polo. Her long line of competitive titles accolades include being the first woman player to capture the prestigious Monty Waterbury Cup, three-time winner of the Aspen Snow Polo Championship, the 2008 Miami Beach Polo World Cup, the 2009 North American Cup and more. In addition, she frequently sponsors youth polo events and charitable functions like Best Buddies, and recently hosted the International Cup polo tournament between the United States and Great Britain.

When people entered the Sailfish Club’s sunny dining room, they passed 13 easels, each holding an oil painting by Plevy of a Portrait of a Woman honoree, including that of 2012 Grand Honoree Dorothy Sullivan, who was unable to attend last year’s luncheon. The remaining portraits were of last year’s Matriarch Countess de Hoernle and Honorees Helen Babione, Sherry Frankel, Bobbi Horwich, Jacie Keeley, Lynda Levitsky and Dr. Maria M. Vallejo.

Singer Bernie Shanahan provided entertainment, and Tim Byrd “The Byrdman” served as luncheon emcee. Jack Shulman produced the poignant video spotlighting this year’s honorees, and Moneca Kauffman, president of Kauffman de Suisse Jewelry Design, who used the Portrait of a Woman logo to create special sterling silver keychains/pendants for the event. Luncheon sponsors included GTP Cares and Ms. Meyer.

Honorary Chairs for the 2013 Portrait of a Woman Spring Luncheon were Etonella Christlieb of Palm Beach and Monica Erickson of West Palm Beach. Honorary Committee members include Edith Gelfand and Gail Worth from Palm Beach; Debbie Schwarzberg from West Palm Beach; Johanna Klausen of Royal Palm Beach, Geri Morrow from Singer Island and Joan Rubin of Boynton Beach.

The Co-Chair of the Committee was Bobbi Shorr and committee members include Shelley Cabangon, Kim Champion, Roberta Jurney and Patricia Turner.

Portrait of a Woman recognizes its annual Honorees and Matriarchs in a unique and personal way, through original oil portraits that are displayed at leading venues throughout Palm Beach County. In fact, the portraits of this year’s honorees have already been exhibited in Boca Raton and Wellington.

Renowned portrait artist and businesswoman Renee Plevy conceived this unique way to recognize the dedication of these women by painting a special portrait of each Honoree. Her 35 years of expertise painting notables is brilliantly displayed in these portraits that show the unique soul of these remarkable women.

“We use this event to raise much needed funds for Quantum House, a nonprofit hospital hospitality house. The only facility of its kind between Fort Lauderdale and Orlando, Quantum House was established in 2001 to provide a caring and supportive home that lessens the burden for families whose children are receiving treatment in Palm Beach County for a serious medical condition,” explains Plevy.’

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