News

    Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches and Treasure Coast, The Lord’s Place, the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden and the Palm Beach Habilitation Center have been busy selecting incoming board members for the 2016-17 season.
    Joining Junior Achievement are Pete Bozetarnik as chairman and Mark Osherow, Ryan Thompson and Jean Wihbey as members.
    “I am confident they will be great additions to the board and will help JA further bring financial literacy programs to students in our community,” President Claudia Kirk Barto said.
    The Lord’s Place’s new slate includes Chairwoman Cornelia Thornburgh, Vice Chairman Michael Diaz, Treasurer Robert Katzen, Secretary Diana Barrett, and outgoing Chairwoman Pamela McIver as board member. Other board members are Ann Brown, Barbara Cheives, Cynthia Heathcoe, Michael Stevens and Adrianne Weissman.
    They will seek to fulfill the organization’s mission of breaking the cycle of homelessness in Palm Beach County.
    Sandy Smith, the newly elected president of the Friends of Mounts Botanical Garden, announced the team: Phil Maddux as first vice president, Martha Gilbert as second vice president, Tom Brockway as treasurer, Paton White as recording secretary, Polly Reed as immediate past president and Bill Brady and Julie Warren Criser as members.
    “All of these talented, insightful professionals will be invaluable assets for Mounts Botanical Garden as we continue to grow and attract new visitors,” Smith said.
    Palm Beach Habilitation appointed four community leaders who come from a range of private- and public-sector backgrounds. They are Dennis Geraghty, Anthony Lofaso, Melissa Santoro and Jacqueline Underwood.
    “Their breadth of experience and expertise in business and financial management, technology, public relations and community affairs will be a tremendous asset to our organization as we further our mission to ensure that individuals with disabilities in Palm Beach County have the best environment in which to learn, work and live,” Chairman Glen Torcivia said.
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    Impact 100 Palm Beach County has developed a new grants policy that benefits nonprofits in South County.
    According to the terms agreed to by the board, every year the organization’s membership reaches or exceeds 500, a $100,000 grant in each of five focus areas (arts and culture, education, environment, family, and health and wellness) will be awarded.
    “Our membership grows each year, and Impact 100 PBC is optimistic it can sustain member numbers of over 500,” Co-President Helen Ballerano said. “We strive to touch as many lives as possible in southern Palm Beach County, and we are grateful for the ability to award grants in each category now every year.”
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Boca Raton Regional Hospital has awarded a grant of $18,100 to Florence Fuller Child Development Centers for its health services and family services programs.
    The health services program provides support that otherwise would not be available to more than 700 children. The family services program serves 500-plus parents and caregivers to ensure they have access to education and resources to address their children’s and their own medical needs.
    “This grant continues our incredibly special partnership with the hospital,” said Ellyn Okrent, the centers’ CEO. “Their support helps our centers to both strengthen our programs and to continue providing necessary services for our children and families.”

To submit your news or event, contact Amy Woods at flamywoods@bellsouth.net.