Page 68 - January_2016_Life_In_Naples_Magazine

Makes a SplashDavid Lawrence Center
this Gala Season with New Live Life In Color!
Gala set for January 23, 2016

HONORARY CO-CHAIRS PAT AND BILL BARTON D avid Lawrence Center, Collier
County’s only comprehensive
mental health and substance CO-CHAIRS POLLY KELLER AND WILLIAM AND KATHY O’NEILL
abuse treatment facility serving children,

adults and families, will brighten the lives

of those in need with the 2016 Live Life and Development Chair William O’Neill and his wife

in Color! Gala set for January 23, 2016 Kathy. The Honorary Co-Chairs are community activists

at 5:30 p.m. at The Naples Botanical Bill and Pat Barton who first became involved with the

Garden. Center in the 1970’s when they became concerned about

This new format will be an the growing incidence of adolescent drug use in Collier

imaginative experience of colorful County and the lack of services available. The couple has

expression like no other. This year, rather since spent the last forty years leading drug prevention and

than transport guests to a faraway land education activities at the local, state and national level

as their destination driven among other interests including healthcare,

themed signature PERFORMANCE ARTIST MICHAEL ISRAEL education, at-risk youth, juvenile justice,
event has done health and human services, conservation and

for the last nine economic development.

years, they turn our Pat shares, “We’ve seen miracles occur

attention to life, lived right here, in paradise. White in the redirecting of people’s lives and those

sands, blue skies, golden sunsets, lush greenery, colors of their families and loved ones. While there

explode all around us and entangle us in a web of have been great strides in removing the stigma

vibrant beauty. Despite this beauty, far too many people and mythology related to these diseases, there

in our community spend their days wandering in a hazy still remains a lack of public understanding

fog, their vision clouded by anxiety, depression, bipolar and acceptance that substance abuse in some

disorder and addiction. With help from the David cases is a precursor of mental health issues/

Lawrence Center, these men, women and children are illness and our work is not done.” She adds,

learning to wipe away the gray and begin to live life in “David Lawrence Center is one of the best

color. treatment centers in Florida due to their

The Live Life in Color! Gala will feature nationally known performance ability to raise funds to supplement the anemic state

artist, entertainer and speaker Michael Israel who pairs his renowned paint funding (49th in the US). This is due to the rigorous work

performance with heart-pounding live music that captivates his audience. of the David Lawrence Foundation and our founder Polly

This interactive event will leave onlookers feeling exhilarated and fulfilled. Keller who we are proud to work alongside in this latest

His art will be auctioned off after the dinner in support of the David endeavor.”

Lawrence Center. There will also be a silent auction during the evening. Tickets to the event are $500 per person and $1,200 per

Event co-chairs are honorary board member Polly Keller who is a 47- VIP patron. For sponsorship opportunities or to reserve a

year veteran Center and Foundation volunteer and current board member ticket, call 239.304.3505 or visit DavidLawrenceCenter.org.

68 Life in Naples | January 2016