MEDIA CONTACT: KAYE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 561-392-5166
BONNIE S. KAYE  [email protected] (C) 561-756-3099
JON A. KAYE  [email protected] (C) 561-756-3097

EDITOR’S NOTE: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

HENRIETTA, COUNTESS DE HOERNLE GCSJ, MMSJ
Our Legend, Her Legacy

“GIVE WHILE YOU LIVE, SO YOU KNOW WHERE IT GOES.”
“I’M AN AMERICAN BY CHOICE.”
“GIVING STARTS AT HOME AND BOCA RATON IS MY HOME.”
–Henrietta, Countess de Hoernle

HENRIETTA, COUNTESS DE HOERNLE,
“OUR LEGEND, HER LEGACY” 100TH BIRTHDAY 
CELEBRATION GALA AND COMMUNITY APPRECIATION INITIATIVE 
FACT SHEET

OVERVIEW:
To celebrate Henrietta, Countess de Hoernle’s immense selfless contributions to the community, the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller Commandery of Florida invites the community-at-large to join together to honor the Countess in several ways on her 100th Birthday, Monday, September 24, 2012.  Festivities include a formal gala celebration to benefit local charities, a communitywide “Red, White & Boca-Blue Countess Appreciation Day”, and the presentation to the Countess of what is planned to be a record-breaking birthday card. The evening gala event will be held as a benefit to fulfill the Countess’s 100th birthday wish: to raise significant funds to benefit Boca Raton area nonprofits.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: 
MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012 – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2012: COMMUNITY BIRTHDAY CARD INITIATIVE
In preparation for the gala event, the community is invited and encouraged to come out this summer to sign birthday card panels that will be on display at convenient locations throughout the community.  The panels will then be assembled as one card for its debut at the gala event celebration on September 24, 2012.  Details will soon be announced about how and where residents, nonprofits, schools, companies, and city and county officials and staff can participate in what is expected to be a heart-warming, record-breaking initiative.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMEBER 22, 2012: VIP RECEPTION: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM (BY INVITATION ONLY)
Gala benefactors are invited to an intimate VIP reception hosted by Countess de Hoernle at Boca West Country Club.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012 (HER ACTUAL 100TH BIRTHDAY): RED, WHITE & BOCA BLUE DAY (ALL DAY)
Throughout the day on Countess de Hoernle’s birthday being called “Red, White, &  Boca-Blue Countess Appreciation Day”, the community is encouraged to pay visual tribute to the Countess for her patriotism for the United States, her “country by choice”, by wearing red, white, and blue and wrapping trees with red, white, and blue ribbons.

MONDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 24, 2012: BENEFIT GALA (EVENING)
To celebrate in royal style at the “Our Legend, Her Legacy” themed benefit gala that begins with cocktails at 6:00 p.m. at Boca West Country Club, more than 700 dignitaries and community, business, and nonprofit leaders will don black or white tie, military or Scottish equivalent, tiaras, regalia, and decorations.  Guests will enjoy dinner, music, multi-media tributes, reminiscing, a video retrospective, and presentation of a gigantic birthday card signed by thousands from the community she has long supported.

Presented by the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller Commandery of Florida, Chaired Dame Isabelle K. Paul DCGSJ and Vice-Chair Dame Alyce E. Erickson DSJ with Honorary Chairs Christine Lynn and Barbara and Dick Schmidt, the event is being held as a benefit to fulfill the Countess’s 100th birthday wish: to raise significant funds to benefit Boca Raton area nonprofits.  Sponsorships at various levels, commemorative journal tribute ads and birthday greetings, tables of 10 and individual seats at $375 per person are available online at www.countess100.org.  The gala’s program journal will be sent to the U.S. Library of Congress, and the Florida State and Boca Raton Historical Societies for inclusion in their historic archives.

WHO:
Henrietta, Countess de Hoernle GCSJ, MMSJ:
Managing her charitable work from her home since 1981 without any staff, the Countess de Hoernle has selflessly given away more than $40 million of her personal funds to local charities while serving on 16 boards of directors each year for more than 25 years, and for more than 30 different charities in her lifetime.  Serving as an indelible and inspiring role model of philanthropy with wisdom and grace, there are more than 40 buildings named in her honor throughout Boca Raton, Palm Beach County, New York, and abroad. Countess de Hoernle’s regalia, honorary degrees from Lynn University and Northwood University, awards, plaques, shields, and commemorative photographs are currently on permanent display curated by the Boca Raton Historical Society at the Spanish River Library in Boca Raton.  For more, visit www.Countess100.org, www.youtube.com/user/Countess100Gala, and “Like” her on www.facebook.com/countess100.

Presenting Sponsor:              
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller, under Royal Charter and Constitution granted by His Late Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia, is one of the oldest orders of chivalry in existence and has raised funds to benefit the sick and the poor of the world since 1048 A.D.  The Countess is its patroness and holder of the Order’s Grand Cross of Justice and Medal of Merit.  The gala on the occasion of her 100th birthday is organized by the OSJ Commandery of Florida, a not-for-profit charitable 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization.  Click here to learn about OSJ.

C100 Event Partners:
Auction Partner:  OSJ Commandery of  New York: Normandy “Château de Charante”, Dame Lee Conetta DGSJ and Joseph Conetta
Auction Partner: OSJ Priory of the Americas: Loire Valley “Château la Charmois”, H.E. Prior Ann Van Ness DCJSJ and Chevalier William A. Van Ness KJSJ
Credit Card Processing: BottomLinePros, LLC
Strategic Communications & Community and Media Relations: Kaye Communications, Inc.
Event Curator: Boca Raton Historical Society
Event Design  & Décor:  A Basket Affair
Event Gifts: RunRunRun
Hotel Partner: Boca Raton Resort & Club
Photography: Elite Studio & Barbara McCormick
Premier Venue Partner: Boca West Country Club
RSVP/Mail House Services: Boca Helping Hands and Bulldog Marketing, Inc.
Social Media, Multimedia & Video: New Epic Media
Web Development & Online Services: Forté Interactive, Inc.
Non-Profit Organization Partners: Boca Raton Historical Society, HomeSafe, Family Promise of South Palm Beach County, Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, Inc., Habilitation Center, Lynn University, Spirit of Giving Network

MORE INFO:
Visit www.countess100.org to learn more about the Countess, the gala, sponsorships, and tickets, as well as updates and how to participate in the “Red, White & Boca-Blue Countess Appreciation Day” festivities.
Visit www.youtube.com/user/Countess100Gala to see Countess de Hoernle’s legacy, tribute, and dedication to the community by visiting
“Friend” and “Like” Countess on Facebook (www.facebook.com/countess100)
Call Gala Chair Isabelle K. Paul (561) 391-3424

MEDIA CONTACT:
To set up media interviews, hi-res photos, and securing media credentials, contact:
KAYE COMMUNICATIONS, INC. (www.kcompr.com)
Official C100 Strategic Communications and Community and Media Relations Partner
561-392-5166
BONNIE S. KAYE, [email protected] (C) 561-756-3099
JON A. KAYE, [email protected] (C) 561-756-3097

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