Ballroom Battle contestant Kirsten Stanley shared this photo with Facebook friends of her first in-person practice.
By Amy Woods
The George Snow Scholarship Fund’s 13th annual event will look a little different this year, or at least come to its audience a different way. The Ballroom Battle will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m. Sept. 26 on WPTV-TV, as well as live-streamed from both the station’s and the nonprofit’s websites.
Previously, fans watched the show at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, but in keeping with federal guidelines prohibiting large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic, the production took an alternative tack. It will take place at the WPTV studios in West Palm Beach.
Organizers of Ballroom Battle hope the televised showdown will resemble — more than it ever has before — Dancing With the Stars, the hit TV series after which it is modeled.
“It is like developing an entirely new event, but we think it will be great for our dancers and our community,” said Debi Feiler, the fund’s vice president of program services.
The evening pits eight local dancers and their professional partners from the Fred Astaire studios in Boca Raton against each other in a quest for the coveted Mirror Ball trophy, which goes to the top male and female fundraisers.
Seven of the dancers have been announced: Steven Bernstein of SBA Communications, Boca Raton attorney Robin Bresky, Dr. Gwenesia S. Collins, from Boca Raton Regional Hospital, William Donnell of NCCI, Tara Lucier of integrated supply chain company Inspirage, Kirsten Stanley of Tammy Fender Holistic Skin Care, and Kyle Stewart of Wells Fargo.
The money raised by the dancers benefits aspiring college students.
For more information, call 561-347-6799 or visit www.ballroombattle.com.
Gift to benefit marine biology program at FAU
Florida Atlantic University has received a $1.125 million gift from the Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation.
The gift will establish the Glenn W. and Cornelia T. Bailey Foundation Marine SEA Scholars Program at the Charles E. Schmidt College of Science’s Marine Science Laboratory at the Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton.
“This gift will allow for the next generation of marine scientists to ensure that important work and discovery will continue for generations to come as evolving impacts to the marine ecosystem continue,” said Ata Sarajedini, the college’s dean.
Jeanette Wyneken, director of the laboratory, said the funds are going to bring “amazing opportunities for marine biologists in training to gain hands-on experiences in the science and the communication of science.”
For more information, call 561-297-2676 or visit www.fau.edu.
Impact 100 names winners of grants
Impact 100 Palm Beach County named the nonprofit winners that took home a combined total of $565,000 in high-impact grants.
The five organizations that received $100,000 apiece are CityHouse, Community Greening Corporation, Florida Atlantic University Foundation, GIVT, and Roots and Wings.
Five finalists received $13,000 apiece. They are Boca Helping Hands, Coastal Conservation Association, Compass, Junior Achievement of the Palm Beaches & Treasure Coast, and Spady Cultural Heritage Museum.
“These grantees began the application process for funding nearly a year ago,” President Kathy Adkins said. “Given these uncertain times, we know that receiving these high-impact grants is more critical to our finalists than ever.”
Impact 100 Palm Beach County is a women’s 501(c)(3) dedicated to funding South County initiatives. It consists of members who donate $1,000 annually.
For more information, call 561-336-4623 or visit www.impact100pbc.org.
COVID-19 emergency fund set up to feed families
Achievement Centers for Children and Families, which serves 900 clients annually from three Delray Beach locations, has mobilized its resources in the wake of the coronavirus.
While learning programs are closed for the safety of students and staff members, the organization is helping with such challenges as loss of employment and food security as well as other critical needs.
“We are committed to doing everything we possibly can, in any way we can, to help our children, families, staff and partners,” CEO Stephanie Seibel said, noting that the newly created COVID-19 Emergency Fund is seeking donations. “Also, in our efforts to support the community as a whole, we are partnering with local restaurants and suppliers to provide meals for our families and are offering opportunities for the community to sponsor meals and support local restaurants.”
ACCF has distributed more than 3,500 meals since making the quick pivot from being an after-school center to feeding people in its aid.
“The demand for our services is greater than ever,” Seibel said. “Our partners and supporters have been instrumental in our efforts to serve meals for over 200 families each week all while supporting local restaurants and their employees.”
For more information, call 561-266-0003 or visit www.achievementcentersfl.org/coronavirus.
Lois Pope encourages others to help the food bank. Photo provided
Pope donates $1 million to county Food Bank
Philanthropist Lois Pope of Manalapan has donated $1 million to the Palm Beach County Food Bank to support and expand its Food4OurKids program.
The program, a year-round weekend and summer initiative designed to fill nutritional gaps when children are not in school, now is needed every day.
“No child should ever go hungry, here in Palm Beach County or anywhere else in this country,” Pope said. “Children need food. They need proper nutrition to learn and thrive. But now, during this coronavirus pandemic when they are not in school, they are especially at risk of going hungry. So I invite others — in fact, I urge others — to join me in this vitally important, essential effort.”
For more information, call 561-582-8083 or visit www.life-edu.org.
Mentoring program gets boost from Boynton
The $200 donation that the Boynton Beach City Commission made to the Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service is helping the nonprofit’s Mentoring 4 Kids program prosper.
The program provides same-gender role models for children ages 6 to 14 who live in single-parent homes. Mentors provide friendship, guidance and support and take the youths to a wide range of community activities.
Studies show mentoring decreases school dropout rates, enhances self-esteem and confidence and strengthens relationships with family members, peers and teachers.
For more information, call 561-238-0285 or visit www.mentoring4kids.org.
In other news, the Ferd & Gladys Alpert Jewish Family Service celebrated its inaugural “Road to Resilience” luncheon, which drew a pre-COVID-19 crowd of more than 200 to witness a virtual chat between Dr. Jennifer Ashton in New York and Dr. Elaine Rotenberg, the nonprofit’s clinical director.
Their conversation focused on the need to shine a light on addiction, mental illness and suicide and to debunk myths and remove the stigma attached to behavioral health problems.
All attendees received a complimentary signed copy of Ashton’s book Life After Suicide, which recounts how she and her children picked up the pieces following her husband’s death.
Event proceeds will benefit the service’s annual fund. For more information, call 561-684-1991 or visit www.alpertjfs.org.
Community Foundation leader to retire
After seven years of dedication to the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties, Brad Hurlburt, president and CEO, is retiring.
Hurlburt will stay with the agency through June 2021 to ensure a smooth transition for his successor.“Brad has done an outstanding job building the organization into an invaluable resource for our community and beyond, and he will certainly be missed,” Chairwoman Sherry Barrat said.
During Hurlburt’s tenure, combined assets have grown to more than $200 million, up from $150 million. The board will engage an executive firm this summer to conduct the search for a new leader.
“This was the opportunity of a lifetime for me, and I will forever treasure partnering with outstanding board members, community leaders, donors and organizations in our community that make a meaningful difference,” he said.
For more info on the foundation, visit www.yourcommunityfoundation.org or call 561-659-6800.
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