Boca Raton Regional Hospital has received a seven-figure gift from Malcolm and Sandra Berman toward the “Keeping the Promise — The Campaign for Boca Raton Regional Hospital” initiative.
In recognition of the couple’s generosity, the elevator lobby on the first floor of the new patient tower will be named in their honor.
“Sandra and Malcolm represent the best of Boca Raton Regional Hospital,” CEO Lincoln Mendez said. “They have been active philanthropically with us for nearly 20 years and understand the value of their partnership with the hospital and how it benefits the people of our community. ”
“Our health care in Boca Raton and that of our family and friends is a significant motivation in our giving to this extraordinary organization,” Malcolm Berman added. “Sandra and I care about this community and want to be part of this next generation of groundbreaking innovation and care.”
In other news, the hospital received its 2,000th-and-counting meal from the Boca Rio Golf Club and Stanley and Marilyn Barry. Knowing the stress that frontline medical workers have been under since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the club and the Barrys wanted to show their support by delivering 250 meals twice a week for six weeks.
“This is such a generous initiative and is so welcomed by the staff,” said Mark Larkin, president of the hospital’s foundation. “Working long shifts, often 12 hours apiece, the nurses, physicians and technologists have little time to take for breaks. Knowing that a nice meal is coming gives them one less thing to worry about.”
“Being able to support the hospital staff during such trying times has been a pleasure,” added Luciano Farias, general manager of the club. “The hospital and its clinicians play such an important role in the health and well-being of our community. To thank them with this gift of fine food is an honor.”
For information, call 561-955-4142 or visit https://donate.brrh.com.
Feeding America receives local funding
Boca Raton-based Office Depot has announced a $1.5 million donation to Feeding America in support of the nonprofit’s COVID-19 Response Fund to help food banks across the country distribute more than 1.3 billion pounds of sustenance to communities in need.
Feeding America is the largest domestic hunger-relief organization in the country with a network of 200-plus member food banks.
“Now more than ever, we are committed to strengthening local communities and hope that this donation will help to provide relief for families that are struggling to put food on the table,” Office Depot CEO Gerry Smith said.
For information, call 561-438-6027 or visit www.feedingamerica.org.
7 arts organizations to benefit from PNC grants
As the arts adapt to a new normal of fewer social interactions, South Florida organizations are faced with the challenge of safely offering music and theater to local communities.
With that in mind, the PNC Foundation has awarded $100,000 to seven arts organizations in Palm Beach and Broward counties.
“With the unexpected impacts of the pandemic on live performances and art exhibits, we felt it was more important than ever to renew our commitment to the local arts community with much-needed grants,” said Cressman Bronson, the bank’s regional president for southeast Florida.
“Through PNC Arts Alive, arts organizations will be able to provide a variety of creative solutions that will take our shared vision of a more dynamic, artistic community to the next level in South Florida.”
For information, call 407-271-2694 or visit www.pnc.com.
Philanthropy Tank concludes fifth season
Seven student-led charity programs earned more than $89,000 in funding after business pitches were made to a group of philanthropist investors.
Finalists of Philanthropy Tank presented their causes on a virtual stage in front of hundreds of audience members as this year’s “finals” event turned into a “recorded live finals event” because of the coronavirus.
The grants mark Philanthropy Tank’s fifth season of supporting programs in the areas of music / art education, female empowerment, child welfare, pediatric cancer and more. In all, it has awarded more than $500,000 — in addition to hundreds of hours of mentorship — to teens who have started nearly three dozen local charities.
For information, call 561-910-3893 or visit www.philanthropytank.org.
Boca West Children’s Foundation expands
The Children’s Foundation of Palm Beach County has been established in conjunction with the Boca West Children’s Foundation, an organization that has made grants exceeding $10 million in the last decade.
Founded in 2010 and supporting 25 local children’s charities, the Boca West Children’s Foundation has expanded its reach beyond South County by adding new board members and fresh charity partners.
“The foundation’s impact on local kids has been tremendous as we’ve been able to provide essentials for 5,000 children each day, providing cribs, diapers, after-school care, tutoring, summer camps, sports and music programs, meals, school supplies, college scholarships and more,” Executive Director Pamela Weinroth said. “We are grateful that we can expand these efforts to reach even more kids thanks to the efforts of our new board members and all of our supporters.”
For information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.childrensfoundationpbc.org.
In other news, The Boca West Children’s Foundation has presented the YMCA of South Palm Beach County with a $20,000 grant.
Half will pay for day camp for children of first responders during the pandemic; the other $10,000 will go toward the organization’s drowning-prevention program for children with special needs.
“With funds raised from our gala in early March, we were able to provide this grant to the YMCA,” said Pamela Weinroth, the foundation’s executive director.
For information, call 561-488-6980 or visit www.bocawestfoundation.org.
Virus emergency fund aids women, girls
The Jewish Women’s Foundation of the Greater Palm Beaches, a South Florida nonprofit focused on raising the status of women and girls, has created an emergency fund in response to COVID-19.
For charities here and abroad, the pandemic has affected the events and fundraisers upon which they rely. The situation exacerbates the challenges women and girls already face.
“COVID-19 is already disrupting nonprofits and challenging them in unprecedented ways, making it harder for them to provide even basic services,” foundation CEO Jennifer Kryshka said.
“JWF wants to ensure that women and girls are still able to depend on the resources from our grantee organizations. Working together, we can achieve more than we can do alone.”
For information, call 561-275-2200 or visit www.jwfpalmbeach.org.
New programs debut at Boca Helping Hands
Boca Helping Hands has expanded its feeding program with the opening of a pantry-bag distribution site in Lantana.
The site offers underserved people food supplies every Saturday afternoon, with the goal of helping 1,500 families.
“Thanks to Advent Lantana, we have expanded our Pantry Bag program further north, bringing hope to even more families in need,” said Greg Hazle, Boca Helping Hands’ executive director. “This is a service we intend to continue for the long term.”
Congregants from Advent Ministries will volunteer.
“Advent Church Boca has been partners with Boca Helping Hands from the very beginning, and we are thrilled to be able to extend their reach at our new satellite church, Advent Lantana,” said the Rev. Andrew Hagen, church pastor and a member of the nonprofit’s board.
In other news, Boca Helping Hands has established an online Conversation Café to help clients with employment and has begun offering structured ESOL classes virtually. Both programs previously took place in person.
Approximately 30 students participate in the Conversation Café. As for the ESOL classes, they afford people who do not speak English the opportunity to acquire the language and culture skills necessary to function and succeed in America.
“The new Zoom format has actually improved the flexibility of the program so that we can continue to serve students who have returned to their native countries,” Hazle said.
“They can continue to participate in the café via teleconference.”
For information, call 561-417-0913, Ext. 202 or visit bocahelpinghands.org.
Chapter supports kosher food pantry
The Valencia Shores community chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women in Boynton Beach has raised funds to support the kosher food pantry and meal-delivery services at the Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service in West Palm Beach as well as the Ruth & Norman Rales Jewish Family Service in Boca Raton.
Leading the effort is volunteer LeeAnn Hoffman.
“In this time of crisis, some people don’t know where their next meal is coming from,” Hoffman said. “We wanted to be able to help get food on the table, giving them one less thing to worry about. ”
Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service CEO Marc Hopin added that “we are grateful to the volunteers and advocates of the NCJW of Valencia Shores for their generous contribution.”
For information, call 561-713-1893 or visit www.alpertjfs.org.
Florida native joins wildlife refuge board
Delray Beach resident Elaine Meier has been named to the board of the National Wildlife Refuge Association in Washington, D.C.
The NWRA is the nonprofit voice for wildlife conservation on the 568 swaths of land that comprise the National Wildlife Refuge System.
“I grew up going to the Everglades and Florida Keys, where I learned the importance of clean water and the birds and mammals it supported plus the danger of the encroachment of development,” said Meier, a Florida native and public-relations professional. “Nationwide, it is critical to teach the next generation how valuable these natural resources and habitats are to our well-being.”
For information, call 202-577-3200 or visit www.refugeassociation.org.
Boynton Beach volunteer receives service award
Boynton Beach volunteer Todd Finklestone has been recognized by the humanitarian organization ShelterBox USA via its President’s Volunteer Service Award.
Finklestone was lauded for his efforts in helping the nonprofit provide emergency shelter and supplies to people who lost their homes to natural disasters or who fled because of civil unrest in their native lands. He enabled the organization to help more than 145,000 individuals in 11 countries.
“The lifesaving work of ShelterBox is only possible because of our inspiring volunteers like Todd Finklestone, whose service in their communities is ensuring families made homeless by disaster and conflict situations have access to essential shelter and supplies,” President Kerri Murray said. “This distinction truly sets him apart as someone committed to serving others and making the world a better place.”
For information, call 805-608-2400 or visit www.shelterboxusa.org.
Leadership change announced at YWCA
The YWCA of Palm Beach County has hired a new CEO.
Shea Spencer comes to the organization with more than 15 years of nonprofit experience, including fundraising and community engagement, and most recently led the Homeless Coalition of Palm Beach County.
“I am so proud of the work we do and the impact we make in our local community,” Spencer said. “It truly is a tremendous honor to join the board of directors, funders, staff and volunteers in advancing the mission of YWCA, Palm Beach County and building out our legacy.”
For information, call 561-640-0050 or visit www.ywcapbc.org.
Send news and notes to Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net
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