IPC’s Chef William Sellner Cooks It Up With Love At Children’s Home Society Benefit
By Kayla Anderson
Hosts and chefs recently gathered in some of Palm Beach’s most breathtaking homes for an event to benefit the Children’s Home Society of Florida. The International Polo Club Palm Beach and its executive chef, William Sellner, participated in “The Ultimate Dinner Party” on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
The 24th annual event raised more than $250,000 for Palm Beach County’s most vulnerable children.
“The event was incredible,” Sellner said. “It’s so important to the club and me to donate our time and food toward this wonderful cause. The proceeds help children in the system have the opportunity to be adopted into loving families.”
Sellner became involved with the event when one of his purveyors asked him to come along and lend a helping hand. After his first dinner party, the chef knew that this was a cause he wanted to support.
Involving IPC was the next step, and the club was happy to help. IPC and Sellner partnered with the Children’s Home Society as a major partner in Palm Beach County to donate time and food.
The evening began with a cocktail party at the magnificent Palm Beach home of Jeff and Mei Sze Greene. Following cocktails, guests divided into more intimate groups, where they enjoyed custom creations by Sellner and other top chefs. He and other professional chef members of the Palm Beach County Chapter of the American Culinary Foundation planned and prepared a four-course meal for the hosts and their guests.
Hosts included Mr. and Mrs. Leo Vecellio, Ross Meltzer and Victor Figueredo, Mr. and Mrs. Peter Brown, Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Greene, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Virginia Mortara, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Beaty, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. David Dreman, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Allinson, and Dr. and Mrs. Richard Lazzara. Guests included Raysa and Alfie Fanjul, Joel Pashcow, Pam and Peter Dupuis, Michael and Annie Falk, Carol Jaeger and Douglas Jencks, Michele and Howard Kessler, Carolyn Grace, and Tony and Vanessa Beyer.
The event’s honorary chairs were Tom Quick and Susan Miller. They were supported by epicurean advisors JoAnna Myers, Pam Dupuis, Tiffany Cloutier, Marzia Precoda, Holly Dreman and Afsy Pottash. The platinum benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Howard Kessler. Gold benefactors were Mr. and Mrs. Peter A. Dupuis, Mr. and Mrs. Lloyd Miller, Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Myers, Mr. and Mrs. Oliver Grace, Thomas C. Quick, Mr. and Mrs. Tony Beyer, and Pine Creek Sporting Club and Myers Auto of Palm Beach. The media sponsor was Palm Beach Illustrated, and the invitation sponsor was Christofle.
The event has raised more than $4 million since its inception 24 years ago. The money benefits the more than 17,000 vulnerable children and family members that the organization serves in Palm Beach County each year.
“We are thankful for the support we’ve received from the American Culinary Federation,” said Rachel Spillane, special events coordinator for the Home Society. “The event’s success wouldn’t be possible without the time, talent and resources donated by Palm Beach area chefs from properties such as the International Polo Club, the Jupiter Beach Resort and the Breakers. We are honored by our partnership and look forward to the continued positive impact we’ll have on children and families in Palm Beach County.”
The Children’s Home Society of Florida is the oldest and largest statewide organization devoted to helping children and families. Since 1902, the society has offered services that help break the cycle of abuse in families, heal pain for traumatized children and guide teens to successfully transition into adulthood to create strong, loving families.
“The Ultimate Dinner Party” is the Children’s Home Society of Florida’s signature event, taking place in Palm Beach’s most luxurious homes.
“As a chef, it’s the part of life where you need to feed your soul in order to feed others,” Sellner said. “Giving that positivity out there, especially to organizations in need, is such a great thing.”
