HOMETOWN HERO
Chris and Jayne Malfitano
The Malfitanos’ dedication and advocacy has rippled throughout South Florida and Boca Raton Written by MARIE SPEED
My parents always set the example that it did not matter where you came from or what you had or didn’t have; you really needed to live in God’s image and help others.” —Chris Malfitano
This page is a tribute to community citizens who have demonstrated exemplary service and leadership to the city of Boca Raton and is in memory of John E. Shuff.
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he came to Boca Raton from Rochester, N.Y., and he came from Syracuse. They met at what was then the College of Boca Raton Ball on Nov. 17, 1984; by 1986 they were married. Chris and Jayne Malfitano seemed as destined to meet as Boca Raton was to have them—and their volunteerism, advocacy and philanthropy—for the past four decades. The list of organizations in which they have been involved goes on for pages. Hers includes the Harcourt and Virginia W. Sylvester Foundation (after her parents), University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Children’s Place at HomeSafe, Gulf Stream School, the Junior League of Boca Raton, Mae Volen Senior Center and Boca Raton Regional Hospital. His includes the Daily Bread Food Bank, Food for the Poor, Café Joshua, The Lord’s Place, The Gulf Stream School, Deerfield Academy, University of Delaware, Royal Palm Yacht & Country Club and, now, the Second Chance Initiative. AREAS OF PRIMARY INTEREST: Jayne:“For me, it was probably in the Junior League, when I became a guardian ad litem, that I [developed a passion] for child welfare and the concerns for children. Later on, it became cancer, given my dad’s support and the foundation’s support for cancer.” Chris: “My two core areas are
homelessness (I am very involved with the Lord’s Place and Café Joshua) and I think recovery and impoverished people.” BENCHMARK ACHIEVEMENT: Chris: “I was very involved with starting a place we called Café Joshua [that fed the homeless in a restaurant-like model, complete with servers and one-on-one counselors— Ed.]. But we did not have beds, and I knew there was this organization called The Lord’s Place, which had beds. … We needed beds, and they needed a program, and I was one of the catalysts that merged the two organizations. I’m very proud of that. It has greatly benefited the homeless of Palm Beach County.” Jayne:“When I was in the Junior League, I knew there was a need for a shelter in Boca Raton. A group of us got together and set about trying to find someone we could work with to give a home for children who needed one, and so we partnered with The Children’s Place at HomeSafe, which is now HomeSafe.” WHAT DRIVES THEM TO GIVE BACK: Chris: “My dad was a dentist, and I come from a big family—my mom helped raise seven children. I remember from the earliest days stuffing envelopes for different charities that my mother or my
Jayne and Chris Malfitano
father was involved with. My parents always set the example that it did not matter where you came from or what you had or didn’t have; you really needed to live in God’s image and help others.” Jayne: “I guess it’s something so innate in you. … You see somebody hurting, and you want to support them. To help.” FUTURE PLANS: Chris: “Keely Carney Copeland and I founded The Second Chance initiative to help women in recovery. We are at a critical stage in the life of a startup where we need some big changes, and we are making those changes as we speak. It really is an amazing program. A lot of my time now is spent growing this organization.” Jayne: “Continuing on with HomeSafe. They are starting to renovate the Boca Raton campus, so it’s a kind of full circle for me in terms of that. And then my other [priority] is the cancer center. We are building a new research building, and it’s important for us and for our patients and their families. For everybody in our community.”
bocamag.com • • • • March 2023
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