NOVEMBER 2018
B OARD O F D I RECTO R S Bill Peterson Board Chair 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 President Matthew Constantine Chief Executive Officer Sean P. Bresnan John C. Castronuovo Thomas C. Frankel John P. Marasco Elizabeth Morales Cristina Núñez de Landaluce Jeffrey W. Preston Dana Perez, Chief Financial Officer, 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. THE 34TH ANNUAL TREE LIGHTING CELEBRATION Our 34th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration will be held on December 4, 2018 at the historic Sailfish Club of Florida. This year’s Tree Lighting is chaired by Brenda McGarrity and co-chaired by Jen Dudnyk. The highly anticipated evening includes a live auction conducted by Neil Saffer, a local resident that has hosted over 3,500 benefit, charity, and fundraising auctions. The event will also include a beautiful silent auction with a wide array of live orchids, holiday décor, and an incredible selection of themed gift baskets. The highlight of the evening will be the lighting of the ‘Angel Tree,’ which will be decorated with holiday angels representing the generous supporters who have assisted our Brenda McGarrity families over the past year. and Jen Dudnyk
FEATURED LIVE AUCTION ITEMS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING A pair of five-foot-tall, solid wood nutcrackers will stand watch at your home and greet your guests with true holiday spirit! Dinner for you and 10 friends at CUCINA Palm Beach. A champagne toast will be followed by a five-course dinner prepared exclusively for you and your guests with carefully selected wine pairings. Live out a childhood dream and be a “Sheriff for a Day!” The winner and two guests (ages 10 & over) will tour a crime scene & fingerprint lab, ride on the Palm Beach Sheriff’s marine boat, and much more.
Host a fun & delicious paella dinner party for 20 guests in your home. Enchant your friends with this exciting dish, prepared in front of your guests, which has held a place of honor in Spanish homes for centuries. Attend the 2019 RBC Heritage Golf Tournament with two VIP passes for Saturday and Sunday, April 20 & 21, 2019. Guests will have three nights’ accommodation for two at the Sonesta Resort in Hilton Head and receive an RBC Tournament-style golf bag signed by Matt Kuchar. More exciting items to be unveiled during the evening of December 4.
FEATURED RAFFLE ITEM Feel refreshed and invigorated while staying at the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques Resort in Acapulco, Mexico. Enjoy five nights in a luxurious hillside villa with your own private terrace, swimming pool, breathtaking views, and access to the resorts’ world-class spa. This AAA 5-diamond resort overlooks the Pacific Ocean, which will make for an unforgettable experience. Your chances of winning this dream vacation package are high when you purchase one of only 100 tickets sold at the Tree Lighting Celebration. Airfare not included. Must be used before June 30, 2019. (Value: $3,175)
A NEW HOME FOR A SERVICE ENRICHED HOUSING PROGRAM CLIENT Adopt-A-Family was proud to attend the Groundbreaking Ceremony for Karla Thompson, a resident of the agency’s Service Enriched Housing program. Ms. Thompson has worked tirelessly to pursue her dream of homeownership through furthering her education, advancing her career, credit repair, and careful budgeting. Her achievements qualified her for a spot in Habitat for Humanity of Palm Beach County’s homeownership program, where she volunteered hundreds of hours to earn the land pictured. This land will be developed into a beautiful new home where Karla and her family can grow and thrive. We are excited to see the finished home and celebrate the next chapter in Karla’s story.
UNITED WAY SPIRIT WEEK
In mid-October, Adopt-A-Family held its annual United Way Employee Campaign. For 2018’s theme, “Time Travel with Adopt-A-Family,” staff sang and danced at an 80s prom, soared into the Roaring 20s, got creative for Wacky Hair Wednesday, flew into the future, and ended with a 90s block party. The week was centered on the incredible work that United Way of Palm Beach County has done over the last 90 years. The staff showed their spirit by donating directly to the United Way of Palm Beach County, and we are proud to report that 100% of the agency’s 62 employees contributed, increasing the agency’s annual commitment by over 14%! Adopt-A-Family is continually grateful for the work that United Way of Palm Beach County does in the community and the support they give to the agency and the families we serve.
TRUNK-OR-TREAT
The agency got spooky with its first-ever Trunk-Or-Treat event for residents in our housing programs! Families dressed up, trick-or-treated at themed car trunks, enjoyed delicious food, played Halloween games, and participated in a raffle. Permanent Supportive Housing Program Manager Ashaki Sypher created, implemented, and organized the event with the help from agency staff. Another thank you goes to the Highland Elementary staff, John I. Leonard High School students, and Boynton Beach High School students who volunteered their time, showcased their trunk decorating skills, served food, and made this event a memorable one for our residents. We look forward to hosting Trunk-Or-Treat again next year and creating a family friendly annual event for our residents.
THANK YOU, AMERICORPS VOLUNTEERS For many years, Literacy AmeriCorps volunteers have played an integral role in the success of Project GROW, the agency’s afterschool program that fosters a stable and enriching environment for children in kindergarten through fifth grade. This year, we welcome volunteers Sabra Duff and Jack Thistle. Sabra and Jack work one-on-one with the students to help strengthen their knowledge and build academic confidence. We are grateful for their investment in the lives of our students.
GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY FOR THIRD AVENUE HOMES how the agency then designed the concept for the program after Highland Elementary alerted AAF to the many children suffering in the classroom because they lacked stable housing. Finally, Matt spoke about the day agency friends Nancy Kyle and Jack Fraser invited AAF into their home, and the very next morning made a commitment so significant that it officially brought the dream of Third Avenue Homes to fruition.
On November 15, AdoptA-Family (AAF) welcomed 200 friends and supporters to celebrate as we broke ground on our new housing development, Third Avenue Homes. The ceremony signified the beginning of the next exciting chapter in Adopt-A-Family’s story. AAF CEO Matt Constantine shared the compelling backstory of Third Avenue Homes, beginning with the unexpected opportunity to purchase property adjacent to AAF’s campus in 2014, and the longtime agency friends who generously made that possible, Tim and Jayne Donahue. Matt chronicled
HOLIDAY ADOPTER PROGRAM
Do you want to make a difference in a family’s life this holiday season? Become a Holiday Adopter and provide a meaningful holiday experience for families in need. You can purchase gifts for a family directly from a personalized list, or you can give a monetary donation to Adopt-A-Family, and we will purchase gift cards for the families to buy gifts with. For either option, we recommend spending $75-$100 per family member. Whether you choose to buy the gifts or make a monetary donation, know that you are making a family’s holiday a very special one. For more information, please contact Maria Evangelista at 561-253-1361, ext. 1070 or email mevangelista@aafpbc.org.
Tim Donahue and Nancy Kyle spoke at the Groundbreaking Ceremony and expressed their support of AAF and their desire to invest in children’s educational outcomes through the provision of stable housing. Board Chair Bill Peterson closed the program by launching the public phase of the capital campaign, with 70% of the $6.6 million goal already raised. In less than 18 months, 14 families will be given the gift of hope and a place to call home. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of AAF’s story, and we look forward to updating you on the project’s progress in the coming months! For more information about Third Avenue Homes, please visit the Hope Begins with a Home page on our website (https://adoptafamilypbc.org) or contact CEO Matthew Constantine at 561.253.1362.
SANTA SHOPPE
On Saturday, December 8, Adopt-A-Family will host the annual Santa Shoppe event at First Christian Church of West Palm Beach. Over 300 children and their families will attend the unique holiday party. Each child will receive a personalized gift ($30 value) from Santa, choose and wrap gifts for each family member, make holiday-themed crafts, and enjoy a delicious meal! To be a part of this magical event, please email Odet Rodriguez at orodriguez@aafpbc.org to learn more about how you can volunteer or donate.
Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches, Inc. 1712 Second Avenue North Lake Worth, FL 33460-3210 Phone: (561) 253-1361 www.adoptafamilypbc.org
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• 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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