Over $5,700 Raised for the Big Heart Brigade During Their Red Hot Fireman Auction
On June 20, over 300 guests filled Spoto's Oakwood Grill to bid and cheer on local firemen during the Red Hot Fireman Auction to benefit the Big Heart Brigade. The firemen looking dapper in their tuxedos donated by The Tux Shop and their hair done by Gilded Spa & Salon in PGA Commons raised over $5,700 for their cause which will help feed an estimated 2,850 people during their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner project.
The fireman were auctioned off along with fun "Date Night Packages" donated by Seahorse Fishing Charters, Adventure Time Kayaks, Forte D'Asprinio, Blue Water Powerboat Rentals, Gilded Spa & Salon, In the Kitchen, Jupiter Outdoor Center, Keylypso of the Palm Beaches, Native Surf School, Kilwin's Chocolate, Fudge & Ice Cream, Magellan Charters, Majestic Princess Cruises, Metronome Grand Brasserie, The Florida Marlins Baseball Club, Oakwood Grill, Panera Bread, PGA National Resort & Spa, Quizno's Subs, Spoto's Oyster Bar, Starbucks PGA Commons, Sushi Jo, The Scuba Club, Inc., The Tux Shop, Vic & Angelo's Coal Oven, Enoteca, Widescreen Media Group, Jonathan's Landing Marina Club, The Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Zuccarelli's.
The Big Heart Brigade in a not-for-profit, 100% volunteer, 501 (C) 3 organization. In 1992, a few local businessmen, residents, firefighters, police officers, and other civil servants who wanted to make a difference in the their community came together and founded this very diverse and unusual group. Over the years, community leaders and other citizens who are dedicated to a "hands-on" approach to civic service joined them. Their motto is "Coming to the Rescue." The Big Heart Brigade is a 100% volunteer organization and has no paid administrators or board members. Every dollar that is raised goes directly back into the community, thereby maximizing the impact of every dollar.
Although their most visible project is the Thanksgiving Day Dinner, the Big Heart Brigade offers many other services to the community. In the past, it has provided toys to needy children during the holidays and provided cooking and other services for non-profit events throughout the year. In 2007, the Big Heart Brigade collaborated with PGA Commons for the Fourth Annual Taste of the Palm Beaches™ to raise money to support their cause. The event was highly successful and featured top area restaurants, attracted over 1,600 people and raised over $23,000 for the Big Heart Brigade Thanksgiving Day Dinner Drive. This year the Taste of the Palm Beaches™ is scheduled for Wednesday, November 12 from 5:30 pm to 9 pm at PGA Commons on PGA Boulevard.