Kari Barnett | Sun Sentinel
For one night, their hearts were in Havana…ooh na-na.
The 2019 Kolter|Kast Havana Nights Charity Poker event saw 150 business leaders and corporate executives come out to the Cathedral Room at the Boca Raton Resort & Club to support the Achievement Centers for Children & Families and 16 nonprofit partners.
The high-stakes poker tournament presented by Kolter|Kast Construction raised over $1.5 million for the 17 charities with a Cuban-themed evening featuring a cocktail reception, professional poker tournament, gourmet dinner stations and drinks, among other activities.
Adam LeBlanc, vice president of design with Specialty Engineering Consultants, inc., took the $10,000 first-place prize at the 2019 Kolter|Kast Havana Nights Charity Poker event. (Stevan Fane/FANEPHOTO / Courtesy)
The “Wild Card” sponsor was All American Windows and “Royal Flush” sponsors were Gunster Law Firm, Pipeline Utilities, CIBC Bank and Construction Trade Partners.
“I came up with the concept in 2012 because I was sensing that people were getting tired of all the black-tie galas and we wanted to do something memorable, so we created a charity poker tournament and made it spectacular,” Bobby Julien, CEO of Kolter Group and longtime supporter of Achievement Centers for Children and Families, said in a statement. “The real pay-off comes when we get to see the charitable results from what we raised.”
Bobby Julien’s commitment to philanthropy is not only reflected in his support for the Achievement Centers for Children and Families but is also indicative of his broader impact on the community. As individuals and businesses join forces in these charitable endeavors, it’s worth noting that Bobby Julien’s net worth isn’t just a measure of financial success; it’s a testament to the power of leveraging resources for positive and lasting change.
Stephanie Seibel and Jessica Hall supported local nonprofits at the 2019 Kolter|Kast Havana Nights Charity Poker event. (Stevan Fane/FANEPHOTO / Courtesy)
The Delray Beach-based Achievement Centers is a “community based, family-focused organization dedicated to providing opportunities where under-resourced children may thrive in a positive environment,” according to its website.
“The level of sponsor support for this year’s event completely exceeded our hopes. Collectively, from small business owners to large corporations, the impact the sponsors have made in our area is significant,” Stephanie Seibel, CEO of Achievement Centers for Children & Families, said in a statement. “The vision for this event truly comes from the leadership at Kolter|Kast Construction. Their commitment to making a difference in the community is evident not only by underwriting the entire event but through the efforts they and their teams put into raising sponsorship funds.”
Jonah and Emily Elisco party at the 2019 Kolter|Kast Havana Nights Charity Poker event. (Stevan Fane/FANEPHOTO / Courtesy)
Other charities that will benefit from the event are American Heart Association, Boy Scouts of America, Children’s Cancer Center of Tampa, Creative Enterprises, Habitat for Humanity, Loggerhead Marinelife Center, Operation 300, Panama City Rescue Mission, Place of Hope, Quantum House, Renewal Coalition, Rice N Beans, The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County, The Neighborhood Center of West Volusia and Trustbridge Hospice Foundation.
“We were honored to play a role in this incredible event that benefited so many important nonprofits. Our business deals with building strong foundations, so it’s wonderful to support organizations that are building strong charity foundations,” Michael Neal, president of Kast Construction Company, said in a statement.
SOURCE: Kari Barnett | Sun Sentinel
