Coral Springs Coconut Creek Chamber Holds Gala to Support Local Students

October 24, 2022 • By Kevin Deutsch

15Shares

[caption id="attachment_42991" align="aligncenter" width="800"] Performance Title wins small business of the year.[/caption]

By Kevin Deutsch

A night of blackjack, poker, slots, and roulette added up to lots of cash for a good cause.

The Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber of Commerce held its “Casino Night” Annual Gala, a major fundraising event presented by Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital, on Oct. 20.

A portion of the proceeds raised went to the Chamber’s Education Foundation, which assists DECA (Distributive Education Clubs of America) and BPA (Business Professionals of America) business students at seven local high schools in Coral Springs, Parkland, and Coconut Creek “in their future goals towards becoming tomorrow’s leaders and future entrepreneurs,” according to the chamber.

The gala, held at the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Coral Springs Hotel and Convention Center, also saw attendees win numerous prizes and auction items.

The event featured award presentations to the following recipients, according to the chamber:

Small Business of the Year: Performance Title

[caption id="attachment_42991" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Small Business of the Year: Performance Title[/caption]

Covered Bridge Award: Donna Denton from AmTrust Bank, a Division of NYCB

[caption id="attachment_42990" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Donna Denton from AmTrust Bank, a Division of NYCB[/caption]

Butterfly Award: Coconut Creek Police Sergeant Barb Hendrickx for her work in the Do The Right Thing program

[caption id="attachment_42987" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Coconut Creek Police Sergeant Barb Hendrickx[/caption]

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Business of the Year: Broward College

[caption id="attachment_42988" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Broward College.[/caption]

Community Impact Business of the Year: Seminole Casino Coconut Creek

[caption id="attachment_42992" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Seminole Casino Coconut Creek[/caption]

Workforce Development Business of the Year: Chen Moore Associates

[caption id="attachment_42989" align="aligncenter" width="1680"] Chen Moore Associates[/caption]

Cindy Brief, President and CEO of the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber, said Thursday’s celebration marked the first time the gala had been held in person since the emergency of COVID-19.

“It was amazing to be back in person after having our past two gala’s virtually,” Brief said. “For many of our members, this was their first time meeting in person. Attendees had a chance to really get to know each other and get to connect with people they might have not had the chance to meet.”

Other major sponsors of the gala included Al Hendrickson Toyota, the city of Coral Springs, Coral Springs Medical and Dental, Fiserv, University of Miami Health System, AmTrust Bank, Broward Health Coral Springs, the city of Coconut Creek, Florida Power & Light, and Republic Services.

The purpose of the Coral Springs Coconut Creek Regional Chamber of Commerce is the cultivation of business relationships and economic growth through networking, advocacy, access, and education, event organizers said.

Send Your News to Coral Springs #1 Award-Winning News Site Here. Don't miss reading Margate Talk, Parkland Talk, and Tamarac Talk.

Author Profile

Kevin Deutsch

Kevin Deutsch is an award-winning journalist and author of two nonfiction books. He covers general assignment news and Jewish community issues for Talk Media. He has also worked as a staff writer at The Miami Times, the Rio Grande SUN, the New York Daily News, Newsday, The Miami Herald, The Palm Beach Post, The Riverdale Press, and Bronx Justice News.