The Women's Foundation of Palm Beach County's annual "Raise the Bar" event supports women's and girl's programs throughout the county. This year the event, which takes place at the Kravis Center on April 5, is co-chaired by Gunster attorney Nicole Atkinson and Jennifer Schaffer of Florida Power and Light.
The primary purpose of Raise the Bar is networking, with a brief presentation describing the various programs that the Women's Foundation offers throughout the year. Tickets include wine, beer and hors d'oeuvres and cost $50 per person.
This is the 6th year the Women's Foundation has hosted the event. The foundation was formed in 2007, and according to their website, their purpose is to make sure that women are "visible, valued, and heard in Palm Beach County."
The foundation hosts and sponsors a variety of events throughout the year, including Women on the Run (assisting women with running for political office), By Women for Women (assisting women with financial investments and professional networking), Women Opening Doors for Women (small group mentoring sessions with professional women in 
Palm Beach County), Girls Leadership Institute (education opportunities for young girls), and Women Seen and Heard (the opportunity for women to have conversations with elected officials). This year the foundation is also hosting the PowHERful series, educating women on various aspects of leadership and professional growth. The Raise the Bar event plays an important part in funding these programs.
In addition to her role with the Women's Foundation, Nicole Atkinson is also a co-chair of Gunster's Women's Leadership Forum (WLF). WLF is a firm initiative made up of men and women who work at Gunster and share the goal of advancing qualified women lawyers into leadership roles at the firm. Atkinson is a shareholder in Gunster's business litigation practice.
