Peggy Adams Christmas Ball

CAPEHART

12/19/2025

On December 11, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League gathered more than 300 supporters at the Sailfish Club in Palm Beach for its 54th Annual Christmas Ball, an elegant holiday evening that celebrated a remarkable milestone: the organization’s 100th anniversary. The festive affair supported Peggy Adams’ mission to save the lives of homeless, neglected, and injured dogs and cats across Palm Beach County. Longtime board chair and devoted supporter Pauline Pitt served as Chairwoman for the evening, joined by Co-Chair Aerin Lauder Zinterhoffer.

Guests arrived to a room transformed with holiday lights, glittering gold accents, deep green garlands, red roses, and Christmas trees. One of the evening’s sweetest traditions set the tone from the start, as 16 adoptable dogs welcomed attendees with wagging tails, underscoring the heart of Peggy Adams’ work. In 2025 alone, the organization found homes for more than 5,000 cats and dogs.

The celebration raised over $3 million to support Peggy Adams’ life-saving programs and services. Beyond the fundraising success, the evening marked the culmination of the shelter’s centennial year and looked ahead to its future. It also honored a meaningful transition, with Pauline Pitt passing the stewardship of the Christmas Ball to newly appointed 2026 Co-Chairs Stephanie Booth Shafran and Aerin Lauder Zinterhoffer.

The organization also recognized its generous Centennial supporters. Grand Centennial Jubilee Sponsors included James Berwind and Kevin Clark, Ann and Chris Flowers, Vicky and Sam Hunt, Pauline Pitt and The William H. Pitt Foundation, and Stephanie Booth Shafran of The Otis Booth Foundation. Centennial Jubilee Sponsors included Nancy Brougher and The W. Dale Brougher Foundation, Virginia Burke, Charles Crocker, Emilia and Jose Fanjul Sr., The Fortin Foundation of Florida, Candy Hamm, Jane Lauder, Robin Patton, Marianne and Bill Powers, Lesly S. Smith, Andrea and Steven Wynn, and Aerin Lauder Zinterhoffer.

As Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League closes its centennial year, the Christmas Ball stood as both a celebration of a century of compassion and a powerful statement of commitment to the animals still in need.