'Fashion Under the Stars' Raises Over $80,000 For Parkinson's Research

    BOCA RATON, FL, December 14, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The National Parkinson Foundation (NPF) and the South Palm Beach County chapter of NPF organized an elegant evening of fine food and fashion in their ongoing efforts to benefit research and resources for those affected by Parkinson's disease. The event was held the evening of Thursday, November 20th at the Boca Raton residence of Robert and Robin Muir where over 150 foundation supporters gathered to see "Fashion Under the Stars." The organization raised over $80,000 through ticket sales, a raffle and a live auction. A special guest and "auctioneer" was famed comedian Lonnie Shorr, best known for hundreds of TV appearances and as a headliner at showrooms from Las Vegas to Atlantic City.

The evening began with a cocktail reception followed by an elegant dinner underscored by music performed by an acclaimed string quartet of graduate students from Lynn University. Following dinner, guests enjoyed a fashion show where models "rocked the runway" with fashions from Chukkers for the ladies and fashions from Guy La Ferrera for the gentlemen. Both stores are located in Boca Raton.

The live auction provided the largest, single money-raiser of the evening - a week's stay for two at Two Totem Lodge in Montana, donated by Paul and Mary Ann Milhous and purchased for $20,000 by Henry and Gale Petronis. Other items included a week's stay at a lakeside retreat in Lake Charlevoix, Michigan donated by Enrique and Irene Sosa and purchased by George and Marjorie Yeonas and a private dinner for 10 courtesy of Crystal Bay Caterers in Boca, purchased by event chairs Robert and Gail Milhous.

"We couldn't have been more pleased with this stellar evening and the amount of support it generated," noted Gail Milhous. "Everyone here tonight is dedicated to doing whatever we can to raise funds for research, resources and support for people living with Parkinson's and their families. The evening would not have been the resounding success that it was without the help of all the committee members." They included Vicki Accardi, Bonnie Austin, Mike and Arlette Baker, Gerald and Pam Coffey, Leslie and Esther Evans, Paul and Mary Ann Milhous, Robert and Robin Muir, Phyllis Riesner and Patricia Travis.

About Parkinson's Disease (PD)
Affecting an estimated one million Americans and four to six million worldwide, PD is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's and is the 14th leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression) as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for PD and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.

Founded in 1957, the National Parkinson Foundation's mission is to improve the quality of care for people with Parkinson's disease through research, education and outreach. NPF has funded more than $180 million in care, research and support services. For more information about NPF, visit http://www.parkinson.org, or call the NPF Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636).

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