Delray Beach Center for the Arts Will Honor Joe Gillie at 'Thanks for the Memories' Fundraiser, 11/7

Delray Beach Center for the Arts at Old School Square invites all to a special evening that will honor former President/CEO JOE GILLIE and raise funds for special programming in his name.

"Thanks for the Memories: Honoring Joe Gillie" is Saturday, November 7 at Delray Beach Center for the Arts, located in the heart of downtown Delray Beach at 51 N. Swinton Avenue.

The festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the Cornell Museum of Art. At 8:00 p.m. the party will move to the Crest Theatre for performances and a Call to the Heart - "Keeping the Arts Alive." Champagne and sweets will follow in the Ocean Breeze Room.

Tickets are $150 per person, which includes all the festivities, reserved seating and valet parking. Tickets are available online at DelrayArts.org or call the Box Office at 561-243-7922, ext. 1.

Joe Gillie has worked in the arts in Palm Beach County for 38 years, starting with The Caldwell Theatre Company as a performer, scenic artist and the Public Relations Director. During his tenure there he developed the highly successful Caldwell Cabaret, which ran for eight years at a local hotel and traveled throughout Canada promoting tourism for Palm Beach County. He began his journey at Old School Square in the early 90's as a board member and then as Executive Director and later President/CEO. He opened the Crest Theatre in the restored 1925 high school building on the Old School Square campus in 1993, marking the second phase of the Center's acclaimed historic preservation project.

Gillie retired on September 30th of this year, and wanted the opportunity to leave a legacy supporting a special visual or performing arts program that will be presented in his name each year. Returning to the Wilma A. Elmore Stage in the Crest Theatre, Gillie will appear with long-time cabaret partners, Susan Hatfield Ivison and Kay Brady along with special guests, Broadway star Avery Sommers and soloist, Matthew Farmer, who is also Artistic Director for the Center.

Honorary Chairs and Committee members who are graciously donating their time and talent to this event include Honorary Chair, Mrs. Martie Walker; 25th Anniversary Honorary Chairs, Mr. George Elmore and Ms. Debra Elmore; and Event Co-Chairs, Frances Bourque and Patty Jones.

The Event Committee includes Gloria Adams, Ron & Barbie Backer, Mary Morrell Blum, Bill Branning, Lula Butler, Brian & Randi Cheslack, Bryan DeFrances, Susan Duane, Maria & Howard Ellingsworth, Kathy Fay, Louise Glover, Stacey Hallberg, Karen & Kevin Hammer, Ingrid Kennemer, Jan Kucera, Sharon Manning, Janet Meeks, Susie Mullin, Jeff Perlman & Diane Colonna, Scott Porten, and Kari Shipley.

Honorary Committee members include Jay Alperin, Alan & Barbara Armour, Bob Barcinski, Patricia Burdett, Doak Campbell, Bob Chapin, Bob Currie, Bill Earnhart, Alyce Erickson, Cary Glickstein, Karen Granger, Michael Hall, Gail Howdan, Tom Lynch, Mary McCarty, Barbara & James Marshall, Charlotte Pelton, Larry Rosensweig, Barry Rubin, Sandy Simon, Libby Wesley, Frank Wheat, Bill Wood and Leigh Woodham.