The 5th Annual Haute Tea was held Thursday, September 8th at the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort. The annual fundraiser brings together over 200 philanthropic women, English tea party-inspired luncheon complete with silent auction and Neiman Marcus fashion show.
The event was presented by The Geduld Family and hosted by Young Society of Love & Hope, a group of young, successful South Florida female philanthropists on a mission to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for type 1 diabetes.
As has become the custom, the female crowd donned their finest millenary, giving a nod to this year’s garden theme. At the champagne reception, it smelled like one too, as Haute Tea’s signature scent of water lily and jasmine provided by Boca Raton-based scent diffuser specialists Aroma 360, wafted around the room.
Guests then mingled, got live sketches of their chic looks by local artist Sara Kaplan, light bites and bubbly before heading into the ballroom for the main event– which was kicked off by Event Chairs Lauren Geduld and Stacey Gibb.
The event’s emcee was WSVN-TV News Anchor and Deco Drive Co-Host Lynn Martinez, who sold off live auction items during the luncheon including a Napa Girls Getaway for Four to the Meritage Resort, as well as a two night vacation at the St. Regis Bal Harbour. DRI supporter Lisa Grace gave a heartfelt speech about her experience with her son who has type 1 diabetes, to help get the paddles waving.
The event is the brainchild of Jillian Posner, who served as the event chair for its first four years, was the honoree this year in recognition of her dedication and tireless work to find a cure.
“Jillian’s passion is to help others is evident in every endeavor she has taken on,” said Miami Beach Commisioner and attorney Michael Grieco who took the stage and was one of the few men in the room. “Her leadership inspires everyone at the Diabetes Research Institute to turn the dream of finding a cure into a reality. Over the years Jillian’s hard work has earned the respect of her peers and the community, evident by all the support she has received as the honoree of Haute Tea 2016.”
“I’m honored to be honored,” explained Posner, who accepted her award very humbly. heading to the podium to collect her award in a very distinctive flamingo hat. Afterwards, they announced the winners of the hat contest, judged by The Wordy Girl’s Maria Tettamanti and Miami Fashion Network’s Jessica Anderson.
The organization they raise funds for, the DRI, funds research at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine to help find a cure for Type 1 Diabetes.
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