The Rotary Club Downtown Presents 11th Annual Mayors Ball “Celebrating Boca’s Future”

The Rotary Club Downtown Presents 11th Annual Mayors Ball “Celebrating Boca’s Future”

BOCA RATON, Fla. (May 29, 2026) – With Boca Raton entering a new century in 2026, “Celebrating Boca’s Future” is the theme of this year’s Mayors Ball being held Saturday, October 24 and featuring a star-studded, “A” list of guests and honorees.

Hundreds of local elected officials, business executives and philanthropists are expected to attend the elegant black-tie affair at the iconic The Boca Raton. Hosted by the Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton, all proceeds will benefit up to twenty local nonprofits.

Since its founding in 2015, Mayors Ball has earned the enviable distinction as a ‘don’t miss event of the season,’ according to Boca Raton Magazine with decadent dining and dazzling dancing to the highly popular Steve Chase Band.

Emcees will be Rotarians Alex Price and Amy Kemp. They will announce the winners of four prestigious awards named in honor of three former Mayors and the legendary Addison Mizner:

 

• The George Long Award (Large Business Category) pays homage to the City’s first Mayor and is bestowed upon CP Group. Celebrating forty years in business, CP Group has acquired, repositioned and operated over 170 office and mixed-use properties. The company’s portfolio totals more than 64 million square feet, valued at $8 billion. CP Group’s most notable holding is the Boca Raton Innovation Campus (BRiC), historic home of IBM and the first PC, now housing dozens of companies. Founding and Managing Partner Angelo Bianco will receive the award for CP Group.

 

• The J.C. Mitchell Award (Small Business Category) honors the City’s longest serving Mayor during its most turbulent time (The Great Depression and World War II). The Award recognizes the Research Park at Florida Atlantic. What began in 1985 is now recognized as South Florida’s innovation laboratory, bringing new discoveries to market. The Research Park encompasses 70 acres with 400,000 square feet of innovation that produces a $610m impact on our local economy. The Research Park at Florida Atlantic serves at the intersection of academic research and commercial application, scaling ventures while employing and inspiring students and local residents. Research Park President Andrew Duffell will accept the Award.

 

• The Susan Whelchel Award (Best Nonprofit) is named after Boca’s most beloved Mayor who served six years and added much to the City in terms of education, art and economic development. The recipient is the Child Rescue Coalition (CRC). An international nonprofit, headquartered in Boca, CRC develops free technology for law enforcement worldwide to prevent child abuse, especially sexual predators. Since its inception in 2014, CRC has helped rescue 700,000 children. CEO Greg Schiller will accept the award.

 

• The Addison Mizner Award (Individual) reflects the enriching and enthusiastic spirit of our most iconic resident from a century ago who lives on with his name adorning many public places. The award is being presented to Daniel Hostettler, President and CEO, The Boca Raton. Since 2021, Daniel has championed a monumental transformation of Boca’s most treasured and valuable property into a world class destination. Now celebrating its Centennial year after being opened by Addison Mizner in 1926, The Boca Raton is the only resort in the Americas to earn quadruple Five-Star status from the Forbes Travel Guide.

 

Each honoree will receive a stunning, glass-cut award on stage, preceded by a brief video highlighting their accomplishments. The awards will be presented by Rotary Fund Board Co-Chairs, Ingrid Fulmer and Jonathan Whitney.

“Each year Mayors Ball gets bigger and better with more glitz and glamour, said Fulmer. “This year will be no exception.” Added Whitney, “For the first time in eight years, we have a new Mayor plus Boca is entering a new Century, so it seems fitting for our theme to be, “Celebrating Boca’s Future.”

The program will reflect examples of innovation from local tech companies who are fueling economic growth. There will also be a live auction of high-end vacations and other exclusive experiences conducted by Rotarian Bill Riddick of Saffer and Company.

Single ticket sales start Sept. 1. Corporate sponsorships are now available. Contact Bob Tucker at (561) 289-0436 or 522btucker@gmail.com for a sponsorship packet.

Proceeds from last year’s Mayors Ball were distributed through Rotary’s Service Above Self (SAS) grant program. Local nonprofits awarded SAS grants on May 29 were Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse; American Association of Caregiving Youth; American Disabilities Foundation, Bigger Than Sports; Boca Ballet Theatre; Boca Raton Achievement Center; City House; Faulk Center for Counseling; Friendship House; The Hab Center; In Jacob’s Shoes; JARC Florida; Kindness Matters; Marine Education Initiative; Morning Day Community Solutions; No White Flags; PROPEL, Inc.; Spirit of Giving Network; Sweet Dream Makers; Tomorrow’s Rainbow; Twin Palms Center and Villages of Hope.

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About Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton (RCDBR)

Founded in 2012 and with 60-plus members, The Rotary Club Downtown Boca Raton is a leader among other Florida Rotary Clubs. RCDBR’s mission is health and education and aligns with Rotary International to provide service to others, promote integrity and advance world understanding, goodwill and peace through fellowship of business, professional and community leaders. There are 46,000 Rotary Clubs in nearly every country connecting 1.4 million Rotarians, worldwide. RCDBR meets Fridays at noon at Farmers Table on Military Trail. For more information visit: www.rotarydowntownbocaraton.org or contact Bob Tucker @ 561-289-0436 or 522btucker@gmail.com