From left, Craig Kindell of Spanish River Church presented a $40,000 check to Andrew Holmes, Alonso Williams and Tom Lukasik from 4KIDS to buy a van. Lynn Hogg and Keith Seago from the church joined the presentation of funds from the 2025 Ride4Orphans. This year’s ride is April 25. Photo provided
What goes around comes around, just like a bicycle wheel.
In 2025, more than 900 people pedaled in the Ride4Orphans charity bike ride, raising more than $100,000.
Registration is open for the 2026 ride, and for the sixth year, Spanish River Church in Boca Raton will host the event, which starts at 7:30 a.m. April 25.
The ride was originally founded in 2010 to benefit children in need abroad, including orphanages in Chad and Malawi in Africa, as well as Haiti and India, but it also helps local children.
Some of the money raised last year bought a van for the nonprofit 4KIDS of South Florida. The van will be used by a home that serves teens with complex behavior and emotional needs. Other local charities that benefit from the ride include Place of Hope and CityHouse. The organization and its riders also support the local charity Jack the Bike Man.
Registration is open for three rides: 15, 34 or 62 miles. The fee is $45 and goes up to $50 the day of the event. There’s also a family ride escorted by Boca Raton police officers followed by lunch, games, entertainment and a silent auction. Registration is $25, $20 for just lunch and activities.
All adults and children must register to ride and are encouraged to attend a bicycle safety briefing prior to the ride.
Info: ride4orphans.com or 561-994-5000.
Open House offers chance to meet church leaders
Learn more about Spanish River Church and what it has to offer over a free dinner at 6:30 p.m. April 9. Meet the staff and leaders and discover ways to be part of the church family. The church is at 2400 Yamato Road, Boca Raton. Visit spanishriver.com or call 561-994-5000.
Documentary looks at poetry written by children
Temple Beth El presents a screening of the documentary Through Children’s Eyes, followed by conversation with the movie score composer David Shukiar, from 7 to 9 p.m. April 14 at the Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton.
This multimedia presentation took the poetry written by children imprisoned in the Terezin concentration camp during World War II and set it to music. The visuals display the art they made, their expressions of hope, fear and resilience. After the film, Shukiar will speak about the project.
Register at tbeboca.shulcloud.com/event/through-children39s-eyes-documentary-screening-followed-by-conversation-with-movie-score-composer-david-shukiar.html. Or call 561-391-8900.
Participate in Yoga Mass and Sacred Movement
St. Gregory’s Episcopal, 100 NE Mizner Blvd. in Boca Raton, continues to offer two programs that combine movement and prayer. At 4 p.m. April 16, Yoga and Sacred Movement mixes gentle stretching movements and breath work with reflection on scripture and prayer. Parishioner and yoga instructor Daphne Lombardo leads the program under the direction of the Rev. Dr. Robyn Neville. It is open to seniors and families.
At 4 p.m. April 25, join YogaMass in St. Mary’s Chapel, a combination of graceful yoga, words of faith and contemplative meditation with Neville and the Rev. Elizabeth Pankey-Warren leading.
Bring your yoga mat and water for both events. Call 561-395-8285 or email rneville@st-gregorys.com.
Lawyers’ lunch to feature prominent jurist, author
Two legal giants will be honored with awards at the Project Nuremberg Annual Lawyers Luncheon at noon April 23 at Temple Beth El’s Schaefer Family Campus, 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton.
Bryan Stevenson is founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and the author of the New York Times bestselling memoir Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption, about his career defending the disadvantaged.
Bruce Reinhart is U.S. magistrate judge for the Southern District of Florida. Judge Reinhart signed the warrant that allowed agents to remove about a dozen boxes of materials from Mar-a-Lago in 2022 and formerly represented Epstein victims. Tickets start at $100 at tbeboca.org/project-nuremberg. For more info, contact Aileen Spilka at ASpilka@tbeboca.org.
Wear your favorite denim to Blue Jean Shabbat
Temple Beth El on April 24 hosts a Celebrate Israel Blue Jean Shabbat featuring two services, a multimedia presentation from Project Heroes and an Israeli-themed dinner catered by Artisan Foods.
It begins at 6 p.m. at 333 SW Fourth Ave., Boca Raton. Attendees are encouraged to wear their favorite pair of blue jeans and to bring a new pair of jeans in children’s sizes 4-16 for the Giving Tree’s clothing closet.
The program is free. The optional dinner for members is $35 adults, $25 ages 4-12; and for guests, $40 adults $30 ages 4-12 until April 10, when prices rise $5. Register at tbeboca.org/blue-jeans or call Elinor Josephson at 561-314-2833.
Choral Evensong offers music steeped in tradition
Under the direction of Tim Brumfield, director of music, organist and choirmaster, Choral Evensong is a beautiful service that features the choir of St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church performing stirring music steeped in the Anglican tradition. Evensong takes place at 6 p.m. April 26 at the church, 100 NE Mizner Blvd., Boca Raton. 561-395-8285 or stgregorysepiscopal.org.
Nonprofit group to offer ’Ruth’ on stage in May
The faith-based nonprofit Torch & Trumpet Theatre Company, “where faith and artistry come together to create life-changing experiences,” presents a special performance of Ruth for Easter.
This family-friendly production follows the improbable journey of Ruth and Naomi, two destitute widows whose faith in God — and in each other — ignites a chain of events that changes the course of history. The play offers the hope that no matter who you are or where you’ve been, God has a plan for you.
Performances take place at the Church at Deerfield Beach, 701 NE Second St. (Eller St.), at 7:30 p.m. May 1, 2 and 8, at 3 p.m. May 3 and 2 p.m. May 9.
Tickets: $30 adults, $15 children. 954-821-7292; torchandtrumpet.com
CityLead Boca offers chance to lead, influence
Boca Raton Community Church hosts CityLead Boca from noon-1 p.m. May 7 at the church at 470 NW Fourth Ave. This monthly event for the business community is designed to inspire leaders to use their influence to serve others and transform the city. Reservations are recommended. $20 includes lunch. Doors open at 11:30 a.m. for networking. 561-395-2400; citylead.com/boca.
Event brings in guests to discuss antisemitism
The fifth annual Countering Antisemitism Summit 2026 was held March 16 at the Four Seasons Resort in Palm Beach. Religious leaders, community activists and local residents came together to hear U.S. Rep. Randy Fine (R-Melbourne Beach); U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Naples) and New York Times columnist Bret Stephens.
Honored guests at the all-day seminar included Segev Kalfon, who was held hostage by Hamas militants in Gaza for 738 days following the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks against Israel before being released in October 2025, and Shira Gvili, whose brother Ran Gvili was among the first Israelis taken hostage during the attacks and was killed in captivity.
Pastor Lydia Maldonado reminded a crowd of nearly 500 people that the fight against hate is everyone’s fight and there’s only one solution. “Education will kill ignorance,” she said.
The Palm Beach Synagogue hosted the event, which focused on the rise of antisemitic incidents and efforts to combat them. palmbeachsynagogue.org
— Janis Fontaine
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