Boca Raton Mayor Presents Coveted “Key to City”

BOCA RATON, Fla. (February 25, 2019)—A bagpiper welcome, red-carpet receiving line of 320 guests congratulating honoree Chief Operating Officer/General Manager John Crean, greetings from Ireland’s Ambassador to U.S. Daniel Mulhall and mayoral presentation of the Keys to the City of Boca Raton were among the highlights of Broken Sound Club’s (BSC) 15th annual fundraiser to benefit the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County.

 

Event Co-Chairs Jeannie and Marty Epstein, Judy and Nate Metzger and Kate and Sam Sidewater were supported by a host committee of 40 additional club members. Because of John Crean’s leadership, relationships and widespread support and advocacy of the City of Boca as a great place in which to live, work, play, learn and visit, the host committee opened up this traditionally private event beyond club membership, to the community-at-large.

 

Breaking records in number of guests and funds raised, the evening shone the spotlight on Crean for his appreciation and embrace of diversity, passion for community and stellar personal and professional achievements.  The program featured a video that traced Crean’s history back to his roots in Ireland, his hospitality career that brought him to America in 1990 (first to Lawrence Beach Club, then Muttontown Country Club and now Broken Sound Club, Boca Raton),
his BSC and industry leadership, and mostly his support and advocacy of the Jewish community. Since 2003, when Broken Sound Club membership first hosted its own club fundraiser to benefit the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County, Crean supported membership’s passion for this critical mission and its impact by generously committing the venue, staff and resources.

 

Following the reading of a congratulatory letter from Irish Ambassador Mulhall, Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County CEO Matt Levin shared the nonprofit’s appreciation of Crean’s embracement and support of the Jewish community in South Palm Beach and a poignant video spotlighting the program achievements and needs of JARC, a Federation beneficiary agency that serves people with developmental disabilities through group homes, independent living support and in-home respite care. Crean was then introduced by his daughter Anna, who shared loving, humorous insight into the private family life of the successful, award-winning GM.

 

“I have achieved much and received many leadership awards in my career, but being recognized and honored by an ‘entire culture’ is certainly the most coveted of all,” shared a humbled Crean. “As an immigrant from Ireland who came to this country as those who once entered through Ellis Island seeking a better life, I am deeply honored to be recognized by Broken Sound Club members as they raised funds to continue to strengthen the foundation of the Jewish community and build its collective future. I applaud the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County that encourages and promotes an inclusive sense of community and advocacy.  My wife, daughter and I as well as Broken Sound Club plan to continue our personal and Club generosity.”

 

A well-kept surprise for Crean that rendered him almost speechless was when Boca Raton Mayor Scott Singer took the stage to present the “Key to the City” for Crean’s inspiring leadership in community stewardship and engagement, economic development, sustainability initiatives and BSC as home to the PGA Champions Tour season opener for 13 consecutive years that puts Boca Raton in the international spotlight.

 

From its 100-acre campus in West Boca, the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County connects the Jewish community. Together, with its beneficiary agencies, the nonprofit takes care of those in need and advocates for the vulnerable who cannot advocate for themselves — to live a life with dignity and respect. It works together to build a dynamic Jewish future at home, in Israel and around the world. The nonprofit inspires a passion for learning, responsibility and community. Together, the Federation and its agencies innovate, ideate, and celebrate. A gift to the Federation provides nourishment, expands educational horizons, and supports its brothers and sisters in Israel.

 

For more information on Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County visit www.jewishboca.org.  To learn more about Broken Sound Club, visit www.brokensoundclub.org.

 

 

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