Faulk Center awards mental health advocates

Co-chairwomen Eileen Sands and Lois A. Weisman partnered to put together Faulk Center for Counseling’s Community Impact Awards & Reception, which took place at Broken Sound Club on Nov. 8.

The event featured a cocktail reception followed by a dinner and awards ceremony honoring community leaders and organizations that support the Faulk Center’s mission to provide free and low-cost counseling services.

During a silent auction, guests bid on the chance to win a cruise or stay in a North Carolina home for a weekend. Faulk Center also launched its text-to-give program, where guests used their phones to make donations during the event, replacing the traditional pledge cards. All proceeds from the reception will be matched by Gerald Yass, who established a fund for the center’s children and families program.

Honorees include Caring Heart Award winner Pamela Higer Polani, Mental Health and Wellness Award winner Pam Lean, Advocacy Award winner John Crean and Education Excellence Award winner Hammock Pointe Elementary School, a partner in the center’s Schools Preventive Counseling Program Partner.

Sponsors included Gold Sponsor Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation; Silver Sponsors Northern Trust and Lesser

Lesser Landy & Smith, PLLC; Bronze Sponsors Weingard Wealth Management of Raymond James, Culter Rader, PL, and Gulfstream Insurance Group, Inc; and In-Kind Sponsor TinaValant Photography.

For more information, visit faulkcenter forcounseling.org.

TINA VALANT PHOTOGRAPHY/COURTESY PHOTOS Summer Faerman, Robert Weinroth, Lori Berman, Pamela Polani, Maria Sachs, Monica Mayotte and Silver Sponsor Gary Lesser

Top row, Sandy Vanegas, Stephanie Cook, Joni Webster, Osvaldo Garcia, and bottom row, John Crean, Pamela Higer Polani and Pam Leal

Pamela Higer Polani and Gerald Yass