While my fingers and toes nearly were numb after walking around the vibrant Palm Beach Outlets on Feb. 13, my heart was filled with warmth as 20 wonderful and worthy Palm Beach County charities benefited from the new mall's retail debut.

Jean Fischer, of Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, said $10,000 was raised that night through ticket sales to Open Doors, Open Hearts that will aid patients in need of financial assistance. Marvin Tanck, of Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, said the event served not only to increase awareness but also development leads for the nonprofit that assists those with barriers to employment. Linda Birdsey, of the Kravis Center, was there, too, working one of the entrances and handing out wristbands.

An acrobat, a guitarist, a keyboardist, a saxophonist, a steel-drum player, a stiltwalker and tables of vendors offering sweet, Valentine's Day-eve treats made the open-air night under a near-full moon a joy.

Palm Beach Outlets looks destined for success, and if its Open Doors, Open Hearts initiative is a sign of things to come, the county's economic-development officials and chamber-of-commerce representatives should smile brightly.

Thank you, Jim Roberts, and all the local business leaders who supported this project and crafted its opening around a charity-shopping night that will make immeasurable differences in the lives of those who depend on the following organizations:

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Cancer Alliance of Help & Hope, Caridad Center, C.R.O.S. Ministries, Dress for Success, Gulfstream Goodwill Industries, Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County, Junior League of the Palm Beaches, Junior League of Boca Raton, Kravis Center, Maltz Jupiter Theatre, MorseLife, Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League, Place of Hope, Quantum House, Seagull Services, Spirit of Giving Network, The Arc of Palm Beach County, Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County and Urban League of Palm Beach County.