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Boley marks birthday, spotlights a founder

By MARY JANE PARK
Published March 23, 2005

A Friday luncheon to celebrate the 35th anniversary of Boley Centers for Behavioral Health also was a poignant expression of gratitude to Mary Koenig that marked her official departure from the board of directors.

Paula Hays, former chief executive of the agency, spoke appreciatively of Mrs. Koenig, who is a co-founder of the agency. In the 1960s, Mrs. Koenig began to campaign for a halfway house for mentally ill men. Boley incorporated in 1970, and she was on the inaugural board of directors. In the late 1980s, she helped launch the Boley Angels, which raises money for the organization.

The event also paid homage to the Margaret Ewell Dickins Foundation. Its late founder and namesake, who died in 2000, served on Boley's board of directors and helped start the Angels.

Additional honorees were St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Baker, United Bank president Harold Winner, lawyer Heidi Horak, St. Petersburg Yacht Club executive chef Matt Tracy, the Juvenile Welfare Board of Pinellas County and Boley's Pat Curtin and Jeff McCook.

Amy K. Long, an educator and trainer with the National Empowerment Center in Lawrence, Mass., was the keynote speaker at the luncheon, held at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club. Boley generally is acknowledged as the Southeast's largest residential program for people with psychiatric disabilities. Long once was diagnosed with mental disabilities and later became a psychiatric nurse.

Guests included Mrs. Koenig's daughter Loretta Ross, Mrs. Dickins' daughters Margie Decker and Lisa Johnson, Boley executive director Gary MacMath, Don and Connie Whitehead, Catherine McGarry, Edie Spies, Andrea Winning, Diane Winning, Mary Wyatt Allen, Brenda Battaglia, Ginny Battaglia, Sharon Clayton, Patsy Dunlap and Ann Foster.

The organizing committee included Boley's board chairman, Paul Misiewicz; Sally Poynter; Rutland Bussey; Jeri Flanagan; and Kathryn Juarez.

The 16th annual Abilities Wine & Food Festival drew a record 4,200 patrons to Tropicana Field on March 12.

With more than 400 wines poured and 40 restaurants represented, that made for challenging logistics. Public relations representative Rob Sumner said organizers were able to "push out the pipe and drape" that separated the tasting areas from the infield, and the extended space gave guests a bit more elbow room.

The total isn't complete, but Sumner said this year's event set another standard, raising roughly $200,000 for the Clearwater charity that helps the disabled.

Raymond James Financial was the event's presenting sponsor.

Additional major sponsors were Bright House Networks, Jim's Harley-Davidson, the Margaret Ewell Dickins Foundation, and Dynasales.

Spring into Life, the annual gala for ALPHA, A Beginning, raised more than $25,000 for the charity, Pinellas County's only licensed maternity home.

ALPHA alum Amy Hecht wept as she acknowledged the help she received, and nearly everyone else fought back tears as she spoke of being homeless and pregnant, then reaching hope and achievement through the agency's transitional living program.

The March 10 benefit was a buffet dinner held at the All Family Community Center on 38th Avenue N.

Attendees included Marilyn Deeb, who co-founded ALPHA with her late husband, Roy, in 1979; Sue Brett; Diane Gerber; Kelly Crowe; Cheryl and Gary Sanchez; Theresa Deeb; Forrest Crowe; an d Lisa Kettlestrings.

Landscape architect Phil Graham spoke about the fine points of garden design at the March 14 Bloomin' Garden Party luncheon for members of the Stuart Society of the Museum of Fine Arts.

In his 38 years of business in St. Petersburg, Graham said, he has conceived projects as large as municipal waterfront master plans and as small as apartment balconies.

"Color is the thing that makes me happiest, I think," he said. "Something as common as a pot of flowers, put in the right place, can be extraordinary."

The lunch was but one of numerous events connected with the museum's annual Art in Bloom celebration. Attendees included Stuart Society president Mary Shuh, Dr. Susan Beaven, Laura Felix, Keith Tulloch, Rosemary Johnson, Evelyn Wilty, Pat Eckert, Jeanne Tucker, Carmen Moore, Ardith Rutland, Melissa Rutland, Jane Randall Kirby, Elaine Hearn, Judy Stanton, Betty Shamas, Janet Raymond, Sally Habermeyer, Mary Lou DeVoe, Margaret Bowman, Nancy Biesinger and Betty Bowley.

Susan Hicks and Carole Merritt co-chaired the event committee, which included Joann Barger, Sunny Endicott, Elaine Hearn, Charlotte Kendall, Ruth Kent, Suzanne MacDougald an d Doria Parker.

Underwriters for the luncheon were Joanne Russell and Frannet's.

Thursday

WOMEN OF DISTINCTION: Women's Council of the St. Petersburg Area Chamber of Commerce event features Kash n' Karry and Sweetbay Supermarkets president Shelley Broader. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Palm Court Ballroom, Renaissance Vinoy Resort, 501 Fifth Ave. NE, St. Petersburg. $38. 821-4069.

LUNCHEON, CARD PARTY: St. Anthony's Hospital Auxiliary event. Sunset Vinoy Ballroom, 600 Snell Isle Blvd. NE, St. Petersburg. $25. 520-0286; 343-9504.

MUSIC SWEET MUSIC: Third annual event benefits community, All Children's Hospital musical therapy programs. Dinner, entertainment, silent auction. Casual attire. 5:30 p.m. Pasadena Yacht & Country Club, 6300 Pasadena Point Blvd., Gulfport. $75. 381-9095; www.musicsweetmusic.org

FIRST LADIES PRAYER BRUNCH: 27th annual nonpartisan, nondenominational event features Alabama first lady Patsy Riley, author Becky Tirabassi. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Hilton St. Petersburg, 333 First St. S. Reservations: $25 check per person to First Ladies Prayer Brunch, 4780 Dolphin Cay Lane S, No. 606, St. Petersburg, FL 33711. 867-7656; 867-2021; 522-5357.

Mary Jane Park can be reached at 727 893-8267; fax (727) 893-8675; e-mail park@sptimes.com P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731.

[Last modified March 23, 2005, 11:34:15]