FALL/WINTER 2017
ADOPT-A-FAMILY
B OARD OF D I RECTO R S
Bill Peterson Chairman of the Board Penny Heller First Vice Chair Kirstin Turner Second Vice Chair Heather B. Ferguson Secretary John C. Elder Treasurer Chris Oberlink Member-At-Large Lynda M. Murphy Member-At-Large Garth E. Rosenkrance Immediate Past Chairman Matthew Constantine Chief Executive Officer, LCSW Cristina Araujo Sean P. Bresnan John C. Castronuovo Thomas C. Frankel James X. Llende John P. Marasco Jeffrey W. Preston Dana Perez, CFO, ex-officio
Adopt-A-Family is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit, charitable organization established in 1983. Our mission is to strengthen families with children in their efforts to achieve stability and self-sufficiency by providing access to all-encompassing services.
of the Palm Beaches, Inc. 33RD ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION
For over 30 years, Adopt-A-Family’s annual Tree Lighting celebration at the historic Sailfish Club of Florida has been one of the season’s most anticipated and esteemed events. On December 5, 2017 at 6:00pm, guests will be serenaded with holiday songs as they arrive for a cocktail reception and silent auction featuring an expansive selection of live orchids, carefully curated holiday décor, and an array of themed gift baskets. A gourmet dinner and exciting live auction will follow. Long-time friends of the agency, Beth Hennessy and Brenda McGarrity will serve as chair and co-chair of our 33rd annual event. The Tree Lighting Committee is thrilled to announce local resident Neil Saffer as the event’s new auctioneer. Bringing more than 25 years of experience, Mr. Saffer has conducted over 3,500 charity and fundraising auctions. Tree Lighting promises to be especially meaningful this year as we honor the life of an Adopt-A-Family angel, Mrs. Ruth Hennessy. Ruth was dedicated to improving the lives of children and being a voice for those in need. Her legacy will endure as a symbol of generosity, genuine kindness, and a true example of one volunteer making a difference one family at a time. Ruth was a long-time agency supporter, board member, and Tree Lighting Committee member. As a lasting tribute to Ruth, we are proud to announce the creation of the Ruth S. Hennessy Memorial Library to be located in the agency’s afterschool program, Project Grow, to memorialize Ruth’s passion for literacy and education.
FEATURED TREE LIGHTING AUCTION ITEMS LIVE AUCTION: 1. Twin paddle boards 2. A luxurious 6-night stay in South Africa including game drives and a personal chef 3. Four suite level tickets and parking pass to the Katy Perry concert on December 20th at America Airlines Arena 4. Relax in St. Michaels, Maryland for 6 days and 5 nights in a 3-bedroom, 3-bath home with stunning views and $250 in gift cards to local establishments to add fun to your stay 5. An exclusive culinary journey with wine pairings for ten people in your home catered by one of The Breakers’ most renowned chefs. 6. A delicious paella dinner party for 20 in your home.
RAFFLE: TUSCAN ESCAPE to CASA SOGNI in CORTONA, ITALY! (Valued at $4,500) Seven nights in a 2-bedroom, 2-bath villa nestled in an enclosed garden with french doors that give way to panoramic views of the city and the entire valley. Only 100 tickets will be sold! Please contact Director of Agency Relations Layren Calvo at 561.253.1361 x1120 or lcalvo@aafpbc.org to join us for the event. Tickets are $350.
JACKIE’S JOURNEY FROM HOMELESSNESS TO HOMEOWNERSHIP Jackie and her two sons came to AdoptA-Family several years ago on the verge of homelessness for the fourth time. The home they were renting was going into foreclosure, and the family was given notice to move out before she had time to save money for a security deposit on a new apartment. Jackie called Adopt-A-Family in search of long-term stability for her family. She met the qualifications for Service Enriched Housing and eagerly joined the program. From day one, Jackie took advantage of every opportunity offered to her through the program. She participated in comprehensive case management, attended every Financial Fitness and Homebuyer course, and enrolled her sons in Project Grow, Adopt-A-Family’s afterschool program for formerly homeless and impoverished children. Jackie earned her high school diploma and CNA certification, saved thousands of dollars in her escrow account, and repaired her credit all while maintaining steady employment and navigating life’s obstacles. Her focus and determination paid off when she was selected for a highly coveted homeownership opportunity through Habitat for Humanity. Jackie and her sons completed hundreds of community service hours to earn an affordable no-interest mortgage on a brand new home. “While I was struggling, my kids were struggling as well,” Jackie shared. “That’s what made the stability of Adopt-A-Family so vital. Stability has always been the primary goal for my kids. It’s finally happened. I’ve accomplished that goal. Having children taught me how to be strong, and motivated me to reach this level of independence.” On August 21, 2017, Adopt-A-Family celebrated at Jackie’s Habitat for Humanity home dedication ceremony. Jackie’s teenage sons have their own bedrooms for the first time in their lives, and the whole family is strengthened by the stability and security that comes with homeownership. Everyone at Adopt-A-Family admires the determination, patience, strength, and kindness Jackie has displayed throughout her time at the agency. Thank you to the many partners and funders who worked together to make Jackie’s dream a reality.
HURRICANE IRMA CLEANUP Adopt-A-Family hopes that all of our supporters and partners made it through Hurricane Irma without any significant damage. The agency was fortunate to incur only minimal damage at our administrative offices, and all residential buildings were unscathed, thanks in large part to the generosity of foundations and our board of directors’ willingness to invest in capital improvements. On September 15, 2017, AdoptA-Family staff and clients worked together to finish the cleanup of the agency’s property after the storm. Afterwards, CEO Matthew Constantine recognized the incredible work of the agency’s maintenance team who returned to the property immediately following the storm to make repairs, clear debris, and ensure that all property was safe for clients and staff.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL FAMILY NIGHT AT PROGRAM REACH WITH VOLUNTEERS FROM THE BREAKERS Volunteers from The Breakers sponsored an amazing Back-to-School Family Night on August 17th at Program REACH! The Breakers provided an Italian feast, arts and crafts, and brand new school supplies for each student. Program REACH is Palm Beach County’s largest emergency shelter for families experiencing homelessness. The shelter provides 19-units of temporary housing for homeless families to enable them to secure stable housing.
THE BALLENISLES CHARITIES FOUNDATION SUPPORTS HOMELESS STUDENTS THROUGH THE SCHOOL READINESS KIT PROGRAM A generous grant by the BallenIsles Charities Foundation funds the School Readiness Kit program for families served at the Senator Philip D. Lewis Homeless Resource Center. The program enables students to shop for school supplies, school uniforms, and hygiene items needed to re-enter school after an episode of homelessness. The School Readiness Kits minimize the students’ time out of school and instill them with confidence as they return to the classroom. The BallenIsles Charities Foundation has made this one-of-a-kind program available year round for the last four years, which has enabled the agency to shop for School Readiness Kits with nearly 700 homeless Palm Beach County students.
THE HOLIDAY SEASON IS THE PERFECT TIME TO DIRECTLY ASSIST A FAMILY IN NEED The families served by Adopt-A-Family often struggle through the holiday season without the means to purchase gifts for their children. We have two opportunities for you to make the holidays brighter for these families.
SANTA SHOPPE: SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2017 Over 300 children and their families will attend a special holiday party where they will be treated to a festive atmosphere, arts and crafts, lunch, and Santa will present them with a personalized gift ($30 value) from their holiday wish list.
HOLIDAY ADOPTER: NOW – DECEMBER 13, 2017 The Holiday Adopter program enables donors to provide holiday assistance to an entire family in one of two ways:
To experience the spirit of giving, the children will be paired with a personal shopper to select and wrap gifts for their parents and siblings.
A monetary/gift card donation enables the family to experience the joy of holiday shopping and empowers them to buy the items they need/want most. - OR Gifts for the family can be purchased based on their wish list. Gifts can be personally delivered or dropped off at AAF.
Please contact Christina Hewitt (chewitt@aafpbc.org) if you would like to volunteer or donate to this special event!
$75-$100 per family member is recommended for both options. Contact Maria Evangelista (mevangelista@aafpbc.org) to sign up!
PROJECT GROW STUDENTS GET A BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR OF LAKE WORTH’S WATER TREATMENT PLANT
CONGRATULATIONS TO SHAYENE WEATHERSPOON FOR HER HATS OFF NONPROFIT AWARDS NOMINATION!
The students of Project Grow enjoyed a special tour of the Lake Worth Water Treatment Plant. The Palm Beach Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) sponsored a series of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) field trips to expose Project Grow students to opportunities in STEAM fields. ASCE Palm Beach President Julie Parham invited the students to the water treatment plant and led the tour! The students loved learning about Lake Worth’s water supply and seeing a 1.5 milliongallon water tank on site. Thank you to ASCE and the Lake Worth Water Treatment Plant for providing the students with this exciting experience!
Congratulations to Director of Prevention Services Shayene Weatherspoon on her nomination for “Nonprofit Professional of the Year” at the Hats Off Nonprofit Awards hosted by Nonprofits First at the Harriet Himmel Theater on October 3rd! Shayene has been a vital part of Adopt-A-Family’s staff for over seven years and is extremely deserving of the recognition. Nominees from 79 local charities were honored at the event which raised money for Nonprofits First’s Educational Programs and Rising Leaders. (Pictured from left: Adopt-A-Family’s Christina Hewitt, Shayene Weatherspoon, Oudeline Narcisse, and Kelly Valenzuela)
THE AMAZING FINALE OF AESOP’S TABLES IN WEST PALM BEACH Adopt-A-Family was honored to participate in the City of West Palm Beach’s Aesop’s Tables art installation during the summer of 2017. Twenty-five picnic tables painted by talented local artists in the theme of Aesop’s Fables were each paired with a local nonprofit. On August 31, 2017, the tables were auctioned off with all proceeds benefitting the charity. It was an exciting evening the event raised over $11,000 for local nonprofits and hurricane relief efforts! Renowned local artist Sharon Koskoff’s colorful interpretation of “The Mischievous Dog” for Adopt-A-Family was a hit at the event and fetched the highest bid of the night! Thank you to the generous donor who purchased the table, our incredible artist, and the City of West Palm Beach for facilitating this amazing event.
Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc. 1712 Second Avenue North Lake Worth, FL 33460-3210 Phone: (561) 253-1361 www.adoptafamilypbc.org Please remember Adopt-A-Family in your will.
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West Palm Bch., FL Permit No. 529
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Who We Help
• Families experiencing homelessness. • Income–challenged, working families at risk of becoming homeless • Children ages Kindergarten–5th grade in need of quality after–school activities
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Make your tax-deductible contribution to Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches Please mail to: 1712 Second Avenue North Lake Worth, FL 33460 Give online at www.adoptafamilypbc.org
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