2017 Charity Award Winner, Kathryn Vecellio

Mrs. Vecellio was presented “The Gutsy Gal” Award from former recipient Eva Hill, a corporate real estate investor and luxury hotel consultant, who flew in from California to present the award, along with Deborah Hutchison, founder and president of the Gutsy Gals Culture Club organization.

Past Award Honoree, Eva Hill, 2017 Charity Award Winner, Kathryn Vecellio and Gutsy Gal Award Founder, Deborah Hutchison

“I am so honored to receive this award,” reported Mrs. Vecellio.  “I truly believe that everyone has the responsibility to do all that we personally can to help improve the lives of others.  Receiving this award, which has previously been presented to such accomplished women as Eva Hill and Kathy Ireland, spotlights voluntarism and its important role in our communities.”

As chairman of the Palm Beach Heart Ball, Mrs. Vecellio raised, at that time, a national record-breaking $2.4 million for the American Heart Association at a single event in 2008.   Mrs. Vecellio is especially passionate about improving the health of children and families, and is an ardent supporter of the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Clinic Florida and Schepens Eye Research Institute, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary.

“It’s hard to imagine all that Kathryn Vecellio has accomplished in her career as a philanthropist and community advisor volunteer,” noted Ms. Hill, who met Mrs. Vecellio four years ago in Palm Beach.  “I admire her from the bottom of my heart and feel she is the perfect recipient for the Gutsy Gal award.  Her contributions and commitments to the community are boundless, and her natural leadership skills have impacted so many over the past four decades.  She is an inspirational woman with an amazing spirit of kindness and generosity.”