News

The 2016-17 Palm Beach Philanthropy Tank is underway, challenging local seventh- through 12th-graders to develop community-betterment projects.
Applications from students will be accepted until Dec. 11 for the chance to win one year of personal mentoring and up to $15,000 in funding. Finalists will be announced Jan. 25. They will present their ideas to a panel of four philanthropist-investors on March 8.
“Philanthropy Tank is an opportunity for local philanthropists to work directly with motivated young people from our community,” Co-Chairman Evan Deoul said. “The Philanthropy Tank is proving a uniquely rewarding and fundamentally inspiring way to make meaningful change in our community.”
Developed by the nonprofit Advisors for Philanthropic Impact, the Philanthropy Tank aims to shape the leadership paths of youths and, through their creative solutions, address social issues and effect change.
“Our best advocates are adults who hope to inspire today’s youth to care for their community,” Deoul said. “This is precisely our mission.”
For information, visit philanthropytank.org.

Empty Bowls fundraiser
    The annual Empty Bowls fundraiser will be 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 4 at Old School Square, 51 N. Swinton Ave., Delray Beach. This national grassroots event raises money for local hunger relief, and our event supports the Palm Beach County Food Bank.
    Amateur and professional potters make bowls for local chefs to serve their “signature soups” to symbolically fill the “empty bowls” of hungry people in the community. Each $25 admission includes a simple meal of soup, bread and water, and you get a handcrafted bowl you can take home.
    One hundred percent of proceeds from the event benefits the Palm Beach County Food Bank. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.pbcfoodbank.org.

Record donation made to summer-literacy program
Jarden Consumer Solutions’ employee-funded charitable entity has presented the Delray Beach Public Library with a record $25,000 grant in support of summer literacy.
The library will use the money for programming and to purchase books, prizes and snacks for the at-risk students participating, helping prevent the “summer slide.” The term refers to a tendency for students — especially those from low-income families — to lose some of their achievement gains made during the school year.
“It is the goal of the JCS …to direct funding to areas that best address the needs in the community, and the summer-literacy program in Delray Beach exemplifies that goal,” said Rocki Rockingham, JCS vice president of community relations and communications.
“It is inspiring to see that individuals like the employees of JCS are willing to donate their time and money to give children a greater chance to succeed in their educational endeavors,” outgoing library Director Alan Kornblau added.
The annual program has distributed more than 26,000 books to local children.

All hands on deck for Junior League’s outreach
The Junior League of Boca Raton united with the Junior League of New Orleans to support families in need after historic rainfalls resulted in mass flooding in southeastern Louisiana, impacting at least 100,000 homes and leaving thousands displaced.
Diapers were among the most urgently needed items, so the local league sent 8,652 of them, as well as more than $1,500 in supplies such as baby formula, feminine-hygiene products, food and phone chargers.
“The Junior League of Boca Raton is here to make a difference in the lives of people in our community,” President Kirsten Stanley said. “The tragic flooding in Louisiana reminded us that our community reaches beyond Palm Beach County.”
The league’s goal is to promote volunteerism, develop the potential of women and improve the community through effective action and leadership.

Adopt-A-Family receives 4-star Navigator rating
Charity Navigator awarded Adopt-A-Family of the Palm Beaches a 10th consecutive 4-star rating for its strong financial health and commitment to accountability and transparency. In the last 10 years, 1 percent of the charities it evaluates receives this rating, and Adopt-A-Family is one of four nonprofits in Florida to achieve it. Charity Navigator assesses more than 8,000 charities.
Last year, Adopt-A-Family served more than 2,000 families in need. To make a donation, visit www.adoptafamilypbc.org/donate.

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