Columnists

By: Robert J. Tamasy

The English language has a phrase, “to die for.” This basically means something is good beyond imagining. For instance, “The steak at this restaurant is to die for.” It is so good it defies description.

Thinking along those lines, have you ever experienced anything you could say was “to die for”? Maybe it was food, a travel destination, or a spectator experience that surpassed your greatest expectations?

What about living a life to die for? For some that might mean immersing in favorite pastimes, such as fishing or golfing, music or traveling. Others might think of a life dedicated to the pursuit of wealth, or professional success and achievement. Each of those can offer a level of satisfaction, but in pursuing those alone, we might one day find ourselves singing the old song refrain, “Is that all there is?”

Living a life to die for, in my view, is one lived intentionally and purposefully, defined by an unwavering sense of mission. A life in which the person clearly understands who he or she is, why they are here, and feels propelled to fulfill that purpose. Ultimately, a life that influences many people in positive, life-changing ways. When that individual’s life on earth is ended, an enduring legacy remains.

During my lifetime I have had the privilege of knowing a few people like that, but only a few. Recently my longtime friend, David Stoddard, founder of the non-profit I have worked for the past 12 years, went home to be with the Lord. Dave was one of those rare, larger-than-life people.

He had several distinctive traits – an ever-present smile, genuine humility, great kindness and generosity, a love for people, devotion to his family, and deep faith in Jesus Christ. The verse, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21) aptly described Dave’s life and his unexpected departure from this life at the age of 60.

When I met Dave about 30 years ago, he was an up-and-coming sales executive with a medical supplies company, on a fast track to becoming its top executive. It was worthwhile work, but he felt a calling to do more than sell stethoscopes and surgical equipment. So he resigned, accepting a staff role with CBMC. He oversaw the production of a training series called “Living Proof.” Later, following his vision for having an impact for Christ in companies and corporations of all sizes, Dave started Leaders Legacy. In the 14 years he led the organization, thousands of lives were touched through his unique approach to mentoring, executive coaching, leadership development and team building.

He and I collaborated on his book, The Heart of Mentoring. Its subtitle described the mission he pursued: Developing people to their fullest potential. This encompassed not only professional and personal training, but also helping them discover how to relate spiritual truths to every aspect of their lives. At Dave’s memorial service, dozens of people spoke about the life-changing impact he had on their lives. He would have been quick to point out it was God, not him, that did the changing.

The key for Dave, in business and investing in others’ lives, was total trust and dependence on God. He understood apart from Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5) and we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength (Philippians 4:13). Here’s a question for you: Are youliving a life to die for?

The 2022 documentary “Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic” uncovers the hidden world of online enticement and exploitation of children and teens—and what the public can do to stop it.

Screening for the first time in Palm Beach County, “Sextortion: The Hidden Pandemic” will be shown on Thursday, Jan. 12, at 6:30 p.m. at the Duncan Theatre on Palm Beach State College’s Lake Worth campus, 4200 Congress Ave. The film and panel discussion are free and open to the public. No RSVP or advance tickets required—free general admission seating will be on a firstcome, firstserved basis; doors open at 6 p.m.

For the convenience of the western communities, this event will be livestreamed in its entirety at the Dolly Hand Cultural Arts Center in Belle Glade, 1977 S.W. College Drive. Again, no RSVP or advance tickets required—free general admission seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg and film producer Stephen Peek will speak prior to the screening of the 85-minute film, which has been long-listed for an Academy Award nomination. Following the screening there will be an expert panel discussion led by an assistant U.S. attorney, representatives of the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches and Palm Beach County Victim Services, and a member of law enforcement.

This free screening is made possible by an anonymous donation to the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Foundation and is hosted by Palm Beach State College in partnership with the Human Trafficking Coalition of the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County Human Trafficking Task Force, the National Council of Jewish Women (Palm Beach Section), Hope for Freedom, and Rescue Upstream.

The FBI issued a national public safety alert in December regarding an explosion of sextortion incidents. Sextortion occurs when online predators disguise themselves as children and coerce minors into providing sexually explicit photos or videos. This is followed by threats to distribute the images or harm the send er’s family or friends if additional images of a sexual nature, sexual favors or money are not provided. Children and young adults often cannot cope with the stress and as a result may suffer from anxiety, eating disorders, self-mutilation, depression and suicide. Sextortion can be a gateway to sexual trafficking.

The film, produced in partnership with the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security, is an educational opportunity empowering children, teens, parents and community members to help prevent this insidious crime that impacts 1 in 4 children and teens, and their families, and to make the internet a safer place.

In addition, the filmmakers have partnered with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to create on online curriculum for educators, parents, federal agents and police departments and is age-appropriate for middle and high school students. Educational resources are also available on the film’s website.

Adults who know of a child who has experienced sextortion should contact their local FBI field office, call 1-800-CALL-FBI, or report it online at https://tips.fbi.gov.

The Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University presents, “Russia, Ukraine and the United States,” with former U.S. Ambassador William B. Taylor. The lecture will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 2:30 p.m. at the Eleanor Bernon Rosenthal Auditorium, 5353 Parkside Drive, FAU’s John D. MacArthur Campus in Jupiter; as well as on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at 12:30 p.m. at the Barry and Florence Friedberg Auditorium, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus.

In this one-time lecture, Taylor will discuss Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the challenges facing the security of Europe and the United States.

Taylor is vice president of Russia and Europe at the U.S. Institute of Peace. During the Arab Spring, he oversaw U.S. assistance and support to Egypt, Tunisia, Libya and Syria. He served as the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine from 2006-2009.

Tickets are $55 for members, $65 for non-members and $75 for VIP. Tickets can be purchased by calling 561-799-8547 or at www.fau.edu/osherjupiter for the FAU Jupiter event, and online at www. olliboca.fau.edu for the FAU Boca Raton event.

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Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in U.S. adults aged 65 or older, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The economic impact of falls is immense, with fatal falls estimated to cost $754 million and nonfatal falls $50 billion annually. As the aging population enters long-term care facilities, fall prevention will become an increasingly important public health priority. The good news is a novel approach has recently come to light.

A first-of-its-kind, two-year study conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital’s Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders—a division of Harvard University—and the Midwest Lighting Institute (MLI) found that dynamic, tunable lighting systems, when implemented at long-term care facilities, reduced falls by 43% compared to facilities that retained traditional lighting. The study focused on the positive effects of lighting on alertness, cognitive function, and sleep and how this affects fall risk.

For people who seldom get outside to experience daylight, such as older adults living in nursing homes, the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle is disrupted. While this disruption can cause dangerous falls leading to injuries and worse, the results of this study show how institutional settings can implement lighting changes to their environment to make it safer for both residents and workers.

“The lighting we used in the study implemented specific spectrum and intensity levels timed to regularize sleep-wake cycles and boost the daytime alerting effects of light,” says Brian Liebel, director of research at MLI, the non-profit organization that designed the study as part of its mission to improve lives by putting existing scientific findings about light into real-world practice. “When residents experience improved alertness and cognitive function during the day and better sleep at night, it not only improves their well-being, but also improves the working conditions for staff.”

The system was installed in several longterm care facilities with goals of maximizing the home-like environment and helping residents, especially dementia patients, with “sundowning,” which is the increased confusion, exit seeking, anxiety and verbal/physical aggression many experience in the afternoon and evening.

“There was just a general calmness at 6 p.m. with the lights dimmed, noticeably different as soon as it was installed,” says Jennifer Nelson, dietary aide at Maple Ridge Care Center in Wisconsin. She noticed a tremendous difference in terms of behaviors such as exit seeking and anxiety, especially among dementia patients.

Current strategies to reduce falls typically include complex, multicomponent interventions requiring significant resources, staff time and resident education. The study’s promising results, published in the “Journal of the American Medical Directors Association,” provide a noninvasive and relatively inexpensive method for lowering the risk of falls in nursing homes and long-term care facilities.

“What we know now is that modern lighting technology can promote the body’s health and overall well-being, resulting in a decreased risk of falls among seniors.” says Rodney Heller, president of MLI. “We believe these findings could pave the way for improving the health outcomes of those not only in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, but also in schools, hospitals, office buildings and in industrial environments with 24-hour shifts.”

To learn more about this patented lighting system and how to get it installed in your institution, contact bliebel@midwestlightinginstitute.org.

In the years ahead, fall prevention will become an increasingly important public health priority. The good news is that we have a solution to reducing falls and it has enormous potential to improve well-being and save lives.

There are 2.5 million children in the United States growing up in “grandfamilies,” meaning they’re being raised by relatives or close friends without their parents in the home, and they face higher rates of hunger and food insecurity, according to a new report.

The Generations United report, “Together at the Table: Supporting the Nutrition, Health and Well-Being of Grandfamilies,” highlights the particular struggles of such households, which are often unprepared financially for the unexpected job of raising a child, and may encounter difficulty accessing food and nutrition programs designed to help.

In fact, 25% of grandparent-headed households experienced food insecurity between 2019 and 2020, which is more than twice the national rate. The long-term health implications of food insecurity -- including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, obesity and eating disorders -- are dire. Additionally, food insecurity negatively affects a child’s ability to learn and grow.

While families from all areas of the country face food insecurity, for the large number of grandfamilies living in the South and in rural areas, services are often more limited or challenging to access. What’s more, grandfamilies are disproportionately Black, Latino and American Indian and Alaska Native, populations that already have disproportionate rates of food insecurity due to years of systemic racism. Recently, the White House released a sweeping national strategy to reduce hunger. While advocates describe the plan as welcome and comprehensive on many levels, and say that it identifies the importance of improved outreach to grandfamilies, they also believe it must go further. According to Generations United, some key policy changes to reduce food insecurity for grandfamilies include: • Developing quality kinship navigator programs that connect grandfamilies to support and services in their communities. These programs should provide food and nutrition support to grandfamilies outside the child welfare system. • Expanding access to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) by making a “child-only” benefit that is based on the needs of the child as opposed to household income and by increasing outreach to grandfamilies. • Ensuring automatic access to free and reduced school meals for children living in grandfamilies. • Improving outreach of the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) to help reach more grandfamilies and connect them with benefits for which they are eligible. • Creating joint meal programs for grandfamily caregivers and the children they raise.

“Research shows that being raised by family members or close friends is the best option for children who can’t be raised by their parents,” said Donna Butts, the executive director of Generations United. “But unfortunately, these families face hunger and food insecurity at much higher rates than the average family. The need for basic nutrition and adequate food is universal, and every family deserves to be healthy and thrive. The fact that many of our policies and programs to reduce hunger were not designed with grandfamilies in mind should not stand in the way of this right.”

To read the full report and learn more about issues affecting grandfamilies, visit https://www.gu.org/.

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Thanks to the generosity of Jazwares, a leading global toy company headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, Boca West Children’s Foundation was able to donate 500 toys to the Spirit of Giving Toy Drive.

“It’s our 13th anniversary and the Foundation has made a significant impact in our community by supporting local children’s charities,” said Pamela Weinroth, Executive Director/ COO of Boca West Children’s Foundation. “Christina Irving, our Director of Charity Events, knew Jazwares donates toys each year and decided to submit a request online. We were thrilled when the company upped the count to 500 from our initial ask of 100. It leaves us grinning ear to ear to have been able to provide 500 kids with toys for Christmas because of Jazwares’ generosity.”

One of those children was Knox, a student at Palm Beach School for Autism in Lake Worth who received a guitar as his gift.

Knox, who is 11, said he would never forget how he felt getting that “big guitar.” He had never played an instrument before but always loved listening to all kinds of music. Knox said music is very calming for him. Knox has an older sister who plays piano and is a natural musician. Between his sister and YouTube, he has been learning to tune and play the guitar. His favorite thing to do is to strum the guitar and make up songs.

International producer, actress and pro-Israel activist Noa Tishby will headline 2023 Lion of Judah Luncheon, hosted by the Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County’s Dorothy P. Seaman Department of Women’s Philanthropy.

The event will be held at 10:45 a.m. on Wednesday, February 1, 2023, at The Polo Club of Boca Raton.

This year, Tishby, author of “Israel, A Simple Guide to the Most Misunderstood Country on Earth,” became Israel’s first Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and Delegitimization.

Part of an international sisterhood 18,000 women strong, South Palm Beach County’s Lion contingent of more than 700 is among the largest in the country. Event Chair Shirley Weisman, along with Women’s Philanthropy Chair Elyssa Kupferberg and Vice Chair Shelly Snyder, have planned an engaging program to match the excitement that Tishby is sure to bring.

“Noa’s work of raising awareness of the significance of Israel and the disturbing rise in antisemitism make her an amazing choice for our signature event,” said Weisman.

A minimum individual woman’s gift of $5,000 to the 2023 UJA/Jewish Federation of South Palm Beach County Annual Campaign is required to attend, along with a couvert of $125. RSVP at https://www.jewishboca.org/lionluncheon, or contact Caissa Vega at caissav@bocafed.org, 561-852-6061. To join South Palm Beach County’s Lions of Judah, contact Kathleen Ben-Shoaff at 561.852.5031; Kathleenb@bocafed.org.

The Lion of Judah Luncheon is sponsored by Boca Raton Regional Hospital Foundation, Southern Glazer, in-kind sponsors Ivan & Co., Atlas Event Rentals, and Boca Raton Observer.

On February 9, 2023, Local Wealth Advisor William C. Miller Will Be Recognized

The Professional Advisory Committee (PAC) at the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation will proudly honor William (Bill) C. Miller at its annual Irving Eckhardt Mitzvah Society Celebration at 6 p.m. on Thursday, February 9, 2023, at Farmer’s Table, 1901 N. Military Trail in Boca Raton.

The annual event recognizes each of the professionals who have been instrumental in leading their clients to make planned gifts to the Jacobson Jewish Community Foundation, and one member is proudly honored for his or her commitment and dedication.

“Bill was chosen as this year’s honoree by his peers for his thoughtful and continual efforts to help clients maximize their charitable contributions through the use of life insurance,” said PAC Chair Bryan Drowos.

Miller is managing partner at Miller Wealth Advisors, LLC and has been a member of the PAC since 2015. Since joining the PAC, Miller has been involved in numerous PAC events and initiatives, including co-chairing events, as well as successfully completing the first class of PAC University in 2020. He was inducted into the Irving Eckhardt Mitzvah Society in 2016, and has since worked with numerous clients to secure legacy commitments for the community.

To RSVP, visit jewishboca.org/mitzvahsociety. Couvert is $80 for PAC members/ $95 for non-PAC members. Opportunities are available to purchase tables for the event. For more information, contact Erica Gordon, Director, Foundation Development at 561.852.3114 or EricaG@bocafed.org.

Florida Atlantic University’s 2023 Alan B. and Charna Larkin Symposium on the American Presidency presents “A Conversation with Laura W. Bush and Barbara Pierce Bush,” on Saturday, Feb. 11, 2023 at 4 p.m. The lecture, which will be moderated by presidential historian Timothy Naftali, will take place in the Carole and Barry Kaye Auditorium, FAU Student Union, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton campus. Tickets are $35-125 and can be purchased at www.fauevents. com or 561-297-6124. Group pricing and student pricing are also available.

Bush served as the fi rst lady of the United States from 2001 to 2009 with former U.S. President George W. Bush, and is an advocate for literacy, education and women’s rights. After leaving the White House, she and the president founded the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, Texas, which is home to the Bush Presidential Museum and Library and the George W. Bush Institute, a public policy center established to solve today’s most pressing challenges by developing leaders, advancing policy and taking action.

Pierce Bush, the daughter of the fi rst lady and president, is an executive-in-residence at Schmidt Futures, a venture facility and foundation for public benefi t focused on technology and society, shared prosperity, and scientifi c benefi t. In this role, she supports racial justice, global health and COVID-19 investments and programs, along with some of the world’s most talented entrepreneurs through the Entrepreneur in Residence program. Pierce Bush is also co-founder and board chair of Global Health Corps (GHC), an organization that mobilizes young leaders to solve the world’s most pressing health issues, serving as its CEO for its fi rst nine years. Since 2009, GHC has placed more than 1,000 young leaders on the front lines of health equity in East Africa, Southern Africa, and the United States, developing a cadre of creative, effective and compassionate change makers.

Naftali is an associate professor at New York University, a CNN presidential historian and also has moderated past Larkin symposiums at FAU. Since its founding in 2007, the Alan B. and Charna Larkin Symposium has welcomed author Doris Kearns Goodwin, former U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, journalists/authors Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein; Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post; and historian David McCullough.

For more information, visit www.fau. edu/larkin.

Palm Beach Atlantic will honor philanthropists Mary Fairbanks Freitas and Monika Preston and present scholarships to six deserving female students at the Women of Distinction luncheon Feb. 21 at The Breakers.

A reception with the honorees begins at 11 a.m., with the luncheon to follow at noon. Registration is $350 for an individual ticket or $3,500 for a table of ten. Register at pba.edu/ wod.

Mary Fairbanks FreitasThe Mark and Mary Freitas Foundation supports many causes affecting those in need in the community, especially children. The foundation aids charitable organizations including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Nat King Cole Generation Hope and Best Buddies International.

Mary Freitas is a trustee of the Town of Palm Beach United Way, Cox Science Center and Aquarium, Rosarian Academy and Preservation Foundation of Palm Beach. She is a board member of the Historical Society of Palm Beach County and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County. She is a founding member of the Palm Beach Police Foundation’s Council of 100 and a founding member of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She has chaired numerous luncheons and galas for many organizations.

Freitas is a graduate of Florida State University, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in media communication. She worked in radio and television locally for WPTV and radio stations WRMF and WJNO during and after completing her studies. Freitas attended high school at Rosarian Academy, where she is a parent and board member.

Monika PrestonPreston was born in Stockholm, Sweden, and grew up in Ontario, Canada, where she met her husband, John, at the University of Guelph. She moved to Palm Beach County in 1991.

Preston chaired the American Heart Association Ball in 2019 and has been a co-chair for several years. She has also co-chaired the Palm Beach Police & Fire Foundation Ball with her husband. Preston is vice chair of the Board of Directors of the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts. She has co-chaired the Kravis Center’s annual gala for a number of years. She previously served on the boards of The Benjamin School, Town of Palm Beach United Way, Center for Children in Crises and Stop Children’s Cancer.

She is a mother, wife and grandmother to fi ve. She and her husband will celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary this summer. In addition to her civic responsibilities, she is thankful to be an equestrian.

The prestigious American Heritage Schools is proud to announce that its Broward Campus has been ranked as the No. 1 K-12 private school in Florida by Niche – a global ranking organization for schools and universities.

Niche’s 2023 Best Private Schools and Universities ranking is based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents. Ranking factors include SAT/ACT scores, the quality of colleges students consider, student-teacher ratio, private school ratings and more.

Additionally, the Broward campus is No. 1 in Florida for all private and public schools and the No. 2 private school in the nation with the highest number of National Merit Scholar Semifinalists. 55 seniors from the Broward Campus Class of 2023 have been named National Merit Scholars Semifinalists by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC)®. One of six students from American Heritage Schools in the Class of 2023 is a National Merit Scholar.

“We are very proud of our students, faculty and staff members for helping us achieve the ranking of No. 1 private school in Florida out of over 200 schools,” said Dr. Doug Laurie, president of American Heritage Schools. “Niche is a market leader in connecting schools with students and families and it is gratifying to be recognized for our commitment to academic excellence.”

Niche uses in-depth profiles on every school and college in America, over 140 million reviews and ratings, and powerful search and data tools, to connect millions of students and families with the right school. Niche’s platform, data, and services help thousands of schools, school districts, and communities recruit and enroll best-fit students.

The 40-acre campus in Broward consists of investigative science labs facilitated by Ph.D. research scientists, engineering and robotics labs, mock courtrooms, media centers and computer labs, outdoor environmental classrooms with a certified wildlife habitat, Center for the Arts, Olympic-size pools, sports fields and quiet courtyards.

American Heritage Schools’ Broward Campus serves the rapidly growing areas of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. The school also has free express nonstop buses that go as far south as Miami Shores and Doral. A door-to-door bus is also available per request for a fee.

For more information about American Heritage Schools, please visit: https://www.ahschool.com.