Delayed but not deterred, the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County will hold its annual Mayors’ Ballon Aug. 29 at PGA National Resort & Spa in Palm Beach Gardens from 6 to 10 p.m.
The nonprofit’s annual fundraising gala will feature country music artist Jordan Oaks, curated dining, an exclusive bourbon tasting and a dynamic auction.
“At a time when housing instability continues to affect families, seniors, veterans, and working individuals throughout our community, this evening will serve as a reminder that behind every statistic is a human being, a family, a story, and a future,” said Alexandria Ayala-Long, CEO of the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County.
It has been a difficult year for the Homeless Coalition, and one that proved costly
to the nonprofit's mission and operations.
For the first time since its inception 12 years ago, organizers have had to hold the event without the participation of the current Palm Beach County mayor, Sara Baxter, who has been feuding with the coalition for more than a year.
The spat began when she requested the event be held at President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club. After the coalition questioned the appropriateness of holding the event at Mar-a-Lago, Baxter sought to withdraw the coalition’s county funding, arguing the agency was not doing enough to combat homelessness.
Donors and coalition partners expressed concern that the agency's future was in jeopardy, according to Ayala-Long. Those concerns forced the coalition to postpone its plans to hold the gala this past spring and instead move the Mayors’ Ball to this month until the issue was resolved.
Once county commissioners rejected Baxter's request to defund the agency, the Homeless Coaltion began planning for the Mayors’ Ball, understanding that later summer date is when seasonal residents are generally away from Palm Beach County.
"All of the commotion had a negative impact," said Ayala-Long. "The good news is that we were still able to sell out the event but the sponsorships are down and so too are the contribution amounts. We expect, though, to have a successful event."
Nearly 500 people are expected to attend.
“The Mayors’ Ball remains important because it represents something much bigger than a single evening. It sparks conversation, awareness, generosity, and action — while proving year after year that meaningful change is driven not by any one individual, but by a compassionate community willing to come together and support those who need it most," said Ayala-Long.
More than 1,500 people are experiencing homelessness in Palm Beach County, according to the county’s most recent annual count. Roughly two-thirds of those are living unsheltered, meaning they live in cars, on sidewalks or in parks, and approximately 70% experienced homelessness for the first time.
Ayala-Long said the homeless crisis is acutally much worse. More than 300,000 county residents are fiscally constrained, she said, meaning that many of them live from paycheck to paycheck. One crisis could leave them without housing, she said.
The Homeless Coalition helps fill gaps in funding by partnering with local service providers to cover the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, and security deposits to move homeless families and individuals off the street and into their own homes.
Since 2012, it has helped nearly 40,000 individuals. Its partners include The Lord's Place, Gulfstream Goodwill and Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches.
Ayala-Long said the event is expected to fall far short of the $500,000 goal set for this year or even matching last year's figure of $345,000. She attributed the decline in donations to the uncertainty surrounding its funding.
This year’s event, themed Boots & Bourbon, will bring together Palm Beach County’s philanthropic, business, civic, and community leaders for an unforgettable evening, said Ayala-Long. Sponsors include FPL, the H.E. Hill Foundation, GL Homes, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Cigna Health, Discover the Palm Beaches, Cultural Council for Palm Beach County, and Verdex Construction.
Anyone who wants to donate to the coalition can do so by going to its website at https://homelesscoalitionpbc.org/event/mayors-ball-2026/
Mike Diamond is a journalist atThe Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. He covers Palm Beach County government. You can reach him at mdiamond@pbpost.com. Help support local journalism. Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Mayors’ Ball returns after funding fight with Mayor Sara Baxter
