A Legacy in Motion: Meet the 2026 HH&A Gala Honorees

Intern Candidate
9 hours ago
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What does 25 years of impact look like?

At Holiday HOOPS & ARTs, it looks like generations of young people discovering their confidence, mentors creating opportunities, alumni carrying lessons into their own careers and families, and community leaders using their influence to lift others.

On October 16, Holiday HOOPS & ARTs will bring those generations together at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach for our 25th Anniversary Gala. As we celebrate this milestone, we are proud to recognize a group of honorees who represent not only where HH&A has been, but where our mission is going next.

Special Recognition Gala Honorees: Building and Sustaining the Missionf

Westley "Doc" Holiday Sr. and Judy Holiday began Holiday HOOPS more than 25 years ago with a commitment to creating opportunities for young people. What started with basketball grew into today's Holiday HOOPS & ARTs, reaching more than 2,000 youth and families through athletics, arts, health, life skills, mentorship, and community.

Their impact can be seen throughout this year's honoree class itself—from former Holiday HOOPS athletes who are now successful adults to the young student-athletes following in their footsteps today. As their children, Faith Holiday and Westley Todd Holiday, now lead HH&A as Co-CEOs, Doc and Judy's original vision continues into a new generation.

Coach Steven Karnes represents another side of what has kept that mission moving forward. Alongside Coach James Lynch, Steven has been a driving force behind HH&A's West Palm Beach high school program, providing mentorship and opportunities to young men at a critical transition into adulthood.

The team is 100% donor-funded, and Steven's fundraising efforts have helped raise more than $60,000 over the past three years to keep those opportunities accessible. His commitment reflects a simple belief that has remained at the center of HH&A for 25 years: young people deserve someone willing to believe in them and invest in what comes next.

Student-Athletes of the Year: The Mission in Motion

While this Gala celebrates 25 years of history, Sanari Evans and Marcus Dixon represent the impact happening right now.

Both Class of 2031 point guards, Sanari and Marcus demonstrate the qualities HH&A seeks to develop beyond athletic ability: leadership, discipline, integrity, perseverance, teamwork, and a willingness to grow.

Sanari approaches the game as a floor general, taking pride in creating opportunities for her teammates and making the right play. Her commitment to remaining coachable, working consistently, and becoming the best version of herself reflects a maturity that extends beyond basketball.

Marcus has been part of the Holiday HOOPS family since 2021 and has continued to grow both on and off the court. An accomplished student who earned his school's Dean's Award, he brings the same leadership, positive attitude, and dedication to the classroom that he brings to the game.

They are reminders of why this work continues.

Alumni Honorees: When Impact Comes Full Circle

If Sanari and Marcus represent where the journey can begin, Lekita Logan Range and Jeff Remmington demonstrate how far it can go.

Former Holiday HOOPS athlete Lekita Logan Range is now the Founder and Creative Director of Live N Lavish Events, an award-winning South Florida luxury event planning, floral design, and production company. She has also expanded her impact through the Lavish Branding Academy, mentoring other event professionals and creative entrepreneurs as they build their businesses.

Lekita credits her Holiday HOOPS experience with helping establish the discipline, confidence, leadership, teamwork, and perseverance she carried into adulthood. Today, she continues the cycle by using her own experience to empower others.

Lake Worth native and former Holiday HOOPS player Jeff Remmington took his basketball journey from South Florida to the collegiate level and eventually into professional basketball. His career included the NBA D-League and competition around the world, including Mexico, Puerto Rico, Mongolia, Japan, Australia, China, Canada, and Brazil. Today, Jeff is an entrepreneur, successful business owner, and father of 10.

Their journeys are different, but together they represent one of the most meaningful measures of HH&A's legacy: young people taking the opportunities and lessons they received and building something of their own.

Community Leaders: Extending the Impact

HH&A's mission has never existed in isolation. It is strengthened by community leaders who share a commitment to opportunity, service, health, and the next generation.

Tiffany Moore Russell, Esq., Orange County Clerk of Courts, has built a career around public service and expanding access within her community. From becoming the youngest person elected to the Orange County Commission in 2006 to making history in 2014 as Florida's first elected African American female Clerk of Court, her leadership has continually broken barriers. Her creation of the Lydia Gardner Self Help Center also expanded access to affordable legal assistance for community members who may otherwise struggle to navigate the justice system.

Dr. Michael Milligan, a sports

medicine physician at HSS Florida, has experienced firsthand how athletics can shape a person's future. A high school football coach first encouraged him to become a physician, beginning a journey that would eventually combine medicine and sports. His career has included leadership roles with collegiate athletic programs and sports medicine organizations, while his service continues through community and medical organizations throughout Florida.

Together, they demonstrate how leadership can extend far beyond a title. It is about using experience, expertise, and opportunity to create pathways for others.

A Familiar Voice for a Milestone Celebration

Guiding us through this historic evening will be Amanda Stephen, our 2026 Gala Host and Master of Ceremonies.

Amanda is a SAG-AFTRA and AEA actress, creative leader, and entrepreneur whose career includes her role as Alison Abdullah on Orange Is the New Black. She is also the founder of Creative Plus Club LLC and co-founder of Double Take Casting & Consulting.

More importantly to the HH&A family, Amanda is a former board member, current advisory member, and longtime friend of the organization. Her relationship with HH&A makes her the perfect voice to help bring together the stories, people, and memories that have shaped this milestone.

Honoring 25 Years. Building the Next 25.

Each Gala honoree represents a different part of the Holiday HOOPS & ARTs story: those who built it, those sustaining it, young people growing within it, alumni carrying its lessons forward, and community leaders whose work reflects the same commitment to helping others succeed.

On Friday, October 16, 2026, we will celebrate them together at the 25th anniversary Gala at Manatee Lagoon in West Palm Beach, where it all began.

But celebrating 25 years also means preparing for what comes next.

Through ticket sales, sponsorships, raffles, and the launch of the 25th Anniversary Legacy Fund, the Gala will raise support for three priorities that will help HH&A continue serving future generations: Space, creating a consistent home where children and families can learn, play, and grow; Scholarships, expanding access regardless of financial circumstances; and Sustainability, strengthening the people, partnerships, resources, and infrastructure needed for the next 25 years.