YPOW Honors Wellington Regional CEO Robbin Lee By Deborah Welky
While Wellington is known around the world for its equestrian community, it is also home to a huge working class and professional population that get up each day, take their kids to school and continue on to their jobs as doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers and more. This simple daily ritual quietly weaves the fabric of our community and burnishes Wellington’s reputation as a hardworking, family-oriented place to live. No one knows that better than the Young Professionals of Wellington (YPOW). Five years ago, this group of working adults, most of them under the age of 45, banded together to spread the word to others in their age group that Wellington is a great place to work and a great place to raise a family. “Our main goal, our vision, is to keep the Village of Wellington as the premier location to live and work in Palm Beach County,” YPOW President Pam Tahan said. “Our sole purpose is to attract young professionals to the area and for them to have their families here. We also work to encourage the community to offer amenities for our age group.” YPOW participates in several initiatives each year, including its annual Community Impact Leader Award, which was presented this year to Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee. The group has few expenses and operates through member volunteers. “We have very little overhead — no paid employees, no office,” Tahan said. Yet the group manages to hold several special events, raise money for charity and reward those who help advance the YPOW vision. The group’s biggest fundraiser is its Halloween-themed Wicked gala, which attracts 250 to 300 costume-clad revelers to the Wanderers Club. “It’s the biggest Halloween party in Wellington,” Tahan said. “In addition to dinner and dancing, there’s a casino for prizes, raffle tickets and a silent auction. This year, we had additional entertainment in the form of fire dancers, a magician and an acrobat performing during cocktail hour. It’s meant to be a fun night in Wellington. Our goal is to show the community that we can throw a big party and have a good time without leaving our community.”
The Young Professionals of Wellington recently honored Wellington Regional Medical Center CEO Robbin Lee with its annual Community Impact Leader Award.
The money raised goes to various programs supported by YPOW. “This year, we are part of starting a community garden at the Boys & Girls Club of Wellington, together with the Wellington Garden Club,” Tahan said. “The Wellington Garden Club needed funds for plants, tools and equipment. They are also hoping to buy a shed. The goal is to teach kids about healthy food choices and where food comes from.” Another annual event produced by YPOW is Xcelerate Wellington, based on TV’s Shark Tank. Young entrepreneurs tout their products to local judges, such as Lee and equestrian show promoter Mark Bellissimo. It was Lee’s support for programs such as Xcelerate Wellington that earned her this year’s Community Impact Leader Award. wellington the magazine | december 2017
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