By Amy Woods
The Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County won the 2020 Health & Human Services Organization of the Year award given by the Chamber of Commerce of the Palm Beaches.
Kristin Calder, the coalition’s CEO, accepted the honor during a virtual ceremony.
“This recognition allows us to raise awareness about the families that struggle each day and the ways we are helping to provide literacy and life skills to help them be successful in school and in life,” Calder said. “Our programs and initiatives have an impact countywide, and even in challenging times when we can’t meet in person we have adapted to deliver our programs virtually to continue educating and engaging our students so they continue to reach milestones and make important gains.”
In other coalition news, the Grand Bee, which spelling participants experienced virtually this season because of the pandemic, raised $20,000. The theme was “A Year of Mystery,” and more than 60 competitors helped make it a success.
The coalition’s mission is to improve the quality of life through literacy by serving 29,000 adults, children and families annually.
Doris Kearns Goodwin joins virtual gala in Boca Festival of the Arts Boca has raised more than $33,000 to benefit music education in South County, including the new Festival of the Arts Boca Music Competition.
Proceeds were generated during a virtual gala.
“We are very grateful to all those who tuned in and pledged their support for our ongoing mission to expand our community music-education programs,” said Joanna Marie Kaye, the festival’s executive director.
“The gala captured 632 views — many that included watch parties.
“This number exceeded our expectations and surpassed the reach a live gala would have garnered.”
Among the guests to the virtual gala were presidential historian Doris Kearns Goodwin, former U.S. poet laureate Robert Pinsky and superstar violinist Joshua Bell, in addition to the festival’s music director, Constantine Kitsopoulos.
Funding targets small, emerging cultural groups
The Cultural Council for Palm Beach County is administering funds totaling $212,500 to 24 select organizations.
A motion approved by the council’s board designates dollars from the Cultural Development Fund for Small or Emerging Cultural Organizations to go to nonprofits with operating revenues of at least $25,000.
“This annual funding program supports diverse arts programming focused on education and cultural heritage in Palm Beach County,” President and CEO Dave Lawrence said.
“These programs provide opportunities to children and youth and create opportunities for residents to experience innovative cultural programs. We’re grateful to the Palm Beach County Board of Commissioners for their support and are honored to help these organizations grow through this grant.”
Grant amounts are based not only on organizations’ budgets but also on application scores and the county-approved funding pool.
For a list of 2020-21 winners, visit www.palmbeachculture.com/our-impact/grant-programs/small-or-emerging-organizations/ and look under the Grantee Toolkit.
Boca Regional campaign receives another big gift
Another $1 million gift has been made to “Keeping the Promise — the Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital.”
The donation is one of nearly two dozen seven- and eight-figure amounts received by the campaign, which is steadily pushing toward its $250 million goal.
“The Sands Family Foundation and Constellation Brands only recently joined our family at Boca Raton Regional Hospital,” CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “They immediately embraced our culture of health care and philanthropy as well as our vision for the future. We look forward to a long and healthy relationship with the Sands family, and we are deeply grateful for their support.”
Rob Sands, executive chairman of Constellation Brands, added: “My parents set a wonderful philanthropic example and instilled in us the importance of giving back to support your community. It is a tradition that as a company and as individuals we continue to uphold. I hope our contribution inspires other philanthropic gifts to Boca Regional in this fundraising effort.”
United Way benefits from NCCI’s giving campaign
The National Council on Compensation Insurance raised $255,000 during its annual giving campaign for the United Way of Palm Beach County.
The campaign took place virtually and featured one drive that procured 304 books for the Achievement Centers for Children & Families and another that procured 1,410 pounds of food for CROS Ministries.
“Education and nutrition are so essential for building healthy minds and bodies,” said Freddie July-Johnson, NCCI’s campaign chairwoman, who noted the campaign’s theme,
“Nourishing the Minds and Bodies in Our Community.”
“Our team is proud that the pandemic didn’t hold us back from making a lasting impact on the lives of families in need in Palm Beach County.”
For information about the United Way of Palm Beach County, call 561-375-6600 or visit https://unitedwaypbc.org.
Junior League event haul: $160K and 40,000 diapers
The Junior League of Boca Raton had its 33rd annual Woman Volunteer of the Year event — virtually, of course — and raised more than $160,000 to help South County.
The event also brought in nearly 40,000 diapers for the Diaper Bank.
“Yvette Drucker and Nancy Walsh made the virtual Woman Volunteer of the Year a night to remember,” President Cristy Stewart-Harfmann said.
“Most importantly, thanks to attendees and our generous donors, the event raised significant funds to help women and children in our community.”
The theme was “Honoring the History of Women Volunteers” and highlighted the 685 past nominees.
From A to Y: 25 nonprofits vie for $100,000 grants
Impact 100 Palm Beach County has selected the 25 semifinalists that will have the opportunity to submit full applications for one of several $100,000 high-impact grants benefiting the nonprofit community.
The female-led organization used the virtual platform of Facebook Live to announce the charities in the 2021 competition.
“We received 84 grant applications this year, which means there are $8.4 million in funding requests from local nonprofits in need,” President Kathy Adkins said. “Impact 100 PBC acts as a lifeline to these vital organizations but more so than ever this grant-giving year.”
The charities are: Alzheimer’s Community Care; American Association of Caregiving Youth; Boca Raton Museum of Art; Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County; Coastal Conservation Association Florida; Connect to Greatness; Digital Vibez; First Serve USA; Florence Fuller Child Development Centers; Florida Atlantic University Foundation; Help Our Wounded Foundation; Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast; Love Serving Autism; Milagro Center; Nova Southeastern University; Palm Beach State College; Pathways to Prosperity; Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League; PROPEL; Schoolhouse Children’s Museum & Learning Center; Spady Cultural Heritage Museum; Sweet Dream Makers; Tri-County Animal Rescue; Unicorn Children’s Foundation; and Young Singers of the Palm Beaches.
For information, call 561-336-4623 or visit www.impact100pbc.org.
Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.
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