Men Giving Back, a Boca Raton-based membership organization supporting nonprofits throughout south Palm Beach County, has chosen 12 organizations that provide services in one of four fields within Men Giving Back’s charitable focus areas: mental health, children, education and food security.
Each finalist is guaranteed a 2026 MGB grant of at least $12,500 and will be in the running for the large grant awards of up to $100,000, which are determined at the 2026 MGB Golden Evening at Royal Palm Yacht and Country Club in November. Men Giving Back has contributed more than $3 million to a number of charitable organizations throughout the region.
Finalists are: Best Foot Forward, Delray Beach Public Library, Homesafe, Clinics Can Help, Caridad Center, Feed the Hungry, Literacy Coalition, Roots and Wings, Volen Center, Boca Raton Rotary Fund, Bound for College and Fuller Center.
“As our organization continues to grow, the selection process becomes increasingly more competitive,” said Dr. Nathan Nachlas, a founding member of Men Giving Back and head of its grant committee. “We are extraordinarily appreciative of every organization that took the time to apply for a grant and for the work they do in our community.”
Achievement Centers earns 20th year of accreditation
The Achievement Centers for Children & Families has been recognized by Nonprofits First for maintaining continuous accreditation since the accreditor’s founding in 2005, marking 20 years of commitment to accountability, transparency and nonprofit best practices.
Nonprofits First is a West Palm Beach-based coalition of public and private funders.
In a letter to Achievement Centers, Nonprofits First President and CEO Trudy Crowetz wrote: “Achieving accreditation for one year is a noteworthy achievement — maintaining it for two decades is exceptional.”
Nonprofits First recognizes organizations that demonstrate strong governance, sound financial oversight, compliance with applicable laws and regulations, and a commitment to operational excellence.
Achievement Centers serves more than 750 children and families each year across Delray Beach and surrounding communities through such programs as early learning, Out-of-School Time, teen leadership, family support, and enrichment opportunities.
For more information about Achievement Centers for Children & Families, visit achievementcentersfl.org or call 561-266-0003.
Connections Inc. honors dads with special week
Community-Based Connections Inc., dedicated to youth development, family strengthening and providing community empowerment services to underserved populations, concluded Fatherhood Week 2026 with a multiday opportunity for fathers, father figures and other men throughout the region to focus on mental health awareness, economic empowerment, family connection, domestic violence awareness, mentorship and community support.
Fatherhood Week is tied to CBCI’s nationally recognized fatherhood program, Awesome Dads Awesome Men, a mentoring program funded by the Jim Moran Foundation for fathers and men in Broward County.
CBCI’s Fatherhood Week was held in collaboration with Palm Beach County, the city of Riviera Beach, the Department of Health and Human Services, Riviera Beach SBA, The Lord’s Place, Palm Beach County Clergy Alliance, Saint Paul AME Church, AVDA, YWCA, Destiny by Choice and D.R. Hair Studio in West Palm Beach.
Green Blazer Awards
CBCI also has announced this year’s Green Blazer Awards Gala & Celebration honorees: Kirk Brown, CEO of Handy; Carol Hylton, president and CEO of CareerSource Broward; Brian C. Johnson, founder of Community-Based Connections and president and CEO of the Minority Builders Coalition; and Newton Sanon, president and CEO of OIC of South Florida.
These community leaders will each receive a commemorative and branded green blazer for their contributions to improving the quality of life for children and families at the gala at 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at the Westin Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort, 321 N. Fort Lauderdale Beach Blvd.
Proceeds benefit CBCI’s Awesome Dads Awesome Men fatherhood mentoring program, The Beacon of HOPE-Intact Family Navigation Program, Family Strengthening Program, and S.M.A.R.T. monitoring safety plans, as well as Early Achievers at Markham Elementary, Young Believers, Club Elevate, Haven, and Healing Space.
Tickets are $150 per person; a table is $2,500. Reserve seats at communitybasedconnections.com/green-blazer-awards/.
Lynn to host Women’s Leadership Symposium
Lynn University, in collaboration with the Boca Regional Chamber, will host the inaugural Karen S. Lynch Women’s Leadership Symposium, an event bringing together nationally recognized executives and thought leaders from organizations including the New York Stock Exchange, Revlon and Walgreens.
The symposium is presented by the Dandelion Foundation, founded by best-selling author, mindfulness teacher and Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life co-founder Barbara Schmidt. It is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 7 at Lynn’s Keith C. and Elaine Johnson Wold Performing Arts Center.
Designed to inspire, educate and empower current and aspiring leaders, the event will include conversations on leadership, career advancement, workplace wellness, knowing your value, salary negotiation and strategic risk-taking.
Featured speakers scheduled to attend include:
• Lynch, an author and former president and CEO of CVS Health
• Amy Bricker, executive vice president of Walgreens
• Anne Phelps, principal at Deloitte & Touche
• David Ko, former CEO of Calm and strategic adviser to the board
• Eileen Auen, chairman of Point32Health
• Lynn Martin, president of NYSE Group
• Michelle Peluso, CEO of Revlon
• Russ Miller, founder and CEO of ClearBridge Compensation Group
Attendance is limited to 300 participants. Tickets are $295 and available for purchase. Visit business.bocachamber.com/chamber-events-calendar/Details/women-s-leadership-symposium-1635701.
$75,000 grant expands food access for seniors
The Palm Beach County Food Bank has received a $75,000 grant from Quantum Foundation to support its Groceries for Seniors program, part of the Food Bank’s broader Senior Hunger Initiatives.
The Food Bank gets food from grocery stores, farmers, distributors, wholesalers and other sources and distributes it to more than 200 community partners, including food pantries, soup kitchens and schools.
During 2025, PBCFB distributed more than 10.6 million meals to more than 194,000 residents.
The Quantum Foundation grant will also help advance plans for nutrition education sessions led by a registered dietitian. Seniors interested in participating in the Groceries for Seniors program, as well as caregivers and community partners seeking additional information, can learn more, view participating distribution sites and determine eligibility by visiting pbcfoodbank.org/senior-hunger-initiatives.
Girl Scouts donate 6,560 pounds of food
Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida led a councilwide food drive called Feeding Florida Together to work toward a hunger-free community. Eight hundred-forty girls from 82 troops in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River and Okeechobee counties clocked 327 volunteer hours and donated 6,560 pounds of food to 45 pantries and collection centers.
The girls learned the importance of giving back to their communities and helping those who are less fortunate.
According to Feeding South Florida, 1 in 7 people and 1 in 5 children face hunger in Florida.
“At Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, we instill community stewardship, volunteerism and leadership in our members of all ages, from 5-year-old Daisies to high school senior Ambassadors,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida.
Weston-based Troop 10055 volunteered 150 hours at CROS Ministries and Boca Raton-based Troop 24626 donated 338 pounds of food to Boca Helping Hands in Boca Raton, more than any other troop.
Send news, photos and notes to Lou Ann Frala at philanthropy@thecoastalstar.com.
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