(West Palm Beach, FL – January 3, 2025) With the mission of Empowering Voters, Defending Democracy, the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County (LWVPBC) is inviting friends and supporters to its upcoming annual fundraiser.

Wednesday, February 26 – Doors Open at 11 am

I STAND WITH THE LEAGUE Luncheon & Awards

At the Marriott West Palm Beach, 1001 Okeechobee Blvd

Featuring a Conversation Between the Recipients of This Year’s Mavericks & Heroes Award

+ Katie Phang, Esq. is the host of The Katie Phang Show, airing Saturdays at 12pm EST on MSNBC. Phang also serves as a Legal Contributor for NBC News/MSNBC, leveraging her significant trial experience to provide analysis and commentary on the latest legal issues across the globe. Phang was a trial attorney and media relations/crisis management consultant who received her J.D., *** laude, from the University of Miami School of Law after earning her B.A. in Political Science (with an International Relations concentration) from Yale University. As a Miami-based trial attorney, she practiced law focusing on commercial litigation, family law, real estate litigation, hospitality litigation, and criminal defense & special investigations.

+ Robert Watson, PhD has published over 40 books and 200 scholarly articles and essays on topics in political, military, and social history, as well as two multi-edition, multi-volume encyclopedia sets on the presidents and first ladies. A frequent media commentator, Watson has been interviewed thousands of times by news outlets around the world, including CNN, MSNBC, USA Today, The New York Times, NPR, and the BBC, and has appeared on Hardball, The Daily Show, C-SPAN’s American History TV, The Washington Journal, etc. The award-winning Watson has been named “Professor of the Year” four times and has won all three campus-wide faculty awards—service, research, and teaching—several times at both Florida Atlantic University and Lynn University.

+ Awards Luncheon Honorary Chair:

Keely Gideon-Taylor, Community Relations Manager for The Palm Beach Post and Gannett Southeast Florida Properties.

“This fun and informative event will celebrate the League’s many ongoing activities from our issue-oriented Hot Topic Luncheons and Spotlight Discussions to our successful voter registration drives and voter education guides,’ says LWVPBC President Kathi Gundlach.

Highlights of the annual fundraiser will include a 3-course seated lunch, renowned speakers, a silent auction of fabulous gift baskets and more, and the opportunity to meet and connect with many of Palm Beach County’s most active citizens, office holders, business leaders, community influencers, and local decision-makers.

Tickets to this I STAND WITH THE LEAGUE Luncheon & Awards are only $150 per person and can be purchased online at www.LWVPBC.org. The deadline for RSVPs is February 16, 2024.

Sponsors and underwriters (so far) for this fundraising luncheon include The Palm Beach Post; FPL; Searcy Denney Scarola Barnhart & ShIpley P.A.; Smith Ball Baez & Prather Florida Injury Lawyers; Lesser Lesser Landy & Smith PLLC; and PR-BS, Inc.

About the League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County:

The League of Women Voters of Palm Beach County is a nonpartisan political organization of women and men of all ages and backgrounds, encouraging informed and active participation in government through education and advocacy. The League of Women Voters of the United States believes that voting is a fundamental citizen right that must be guaranteed. For more information, please visit lwvpbc.org or facebook.com/lwvpbc.

Attached Images:

1)   Katie Phang

2)   Robert Watson, PhD

3)   Keely Gideon-Taylor

Available for Interview:

Kathi Gundlach, LWVPBC President

[email protected]

Media Contact:

Gary Schweikhart, PR-BS

561.756.4298 / [email protected]