1. family and parenting

FamilyTies
Leaders in helping families help themselves
SUMMER 2008
ADOPT-A-FAMILY
of the Palm Beaches, Inc.
BRIDGES BEACON, a Community Program
This spring, the Children’s Services
Council asked Adopt-A-Family to
partner in developing a program that
addressed their Sentinel Outcomes.
The result? Bridges Beacon – a community and collaborative effort
between human services agencies,
Highland Elementary School and the
Palm
Beach
County
Health
Department. Named to demonstrate
the function of the program, Bridges
Beacon serves as a bridge, or connector, between service providers and
those in the community who need
them.
Bridges Beacon has three sites where
services can be accessed: Adopt-AFamily’s Community Resource Center,
Highland Elementary School and the
F Street Health Clinic (opening spring
of ’09). These sites, all in Lake Worth,
offer social, health care, and educational services to the community at
large. Assessors located at each site
perform a quick client review, address
immediate needs (food, clothing, and
utility assistance), qualify clients for
food stamps, and any government benefits they may be eligible for, including
health insurance. If a client’s situation
is more complex or the client needs
long-term services, they will be
assigned a single case manager to take
the client through the system for all the
services they need.
SENTINEL OUTCOMES:
1. Increase the percentage of
healthy births
2. Reduce the percentage of
children neglected or
abused
3. Increase the percentage of
children entering school
ready to learn
We invite you to join
any of our sub-committees
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•
•
Human Services
Health Services
Education Services
Community Services
Contact Kathryn Wall,
Bridges Beacon Director
(561) 253-1361 x107
kwall@adoptafamilypbc.org
children who can participate in spring
and summer camps. The city of Lake
Worth leased the old F Street Clinic to
the Palm Beach County Health
Department for $1 per year. The
building is being renovated to become
a full-service health clinic complete
with a lab, as there currently is none
in the area. The Community Resource
Center will host a food pantry, mental
health evaluations and counseling,
supportive case management, legal
assistance, pregnancy and HIV testing, housing assistance, homeless
intervention, and more.
This collaborative vision grew from
concern that elementary school-age
students were not entering school
ready or able to learn; seniors in the
community were not being adequately served, the crime rate was rising,
especially among the young; children
were being abused and/or neglected;
social and learning opportunities were
lacking; residents eligible for services
were not accessing them; and healthrelated issues were being neglected,
such as early entry in to prenatal care
and easy access to HIV testing and
immunizations. Surveys found that
many are not utilizing the services
they qualify for. In fact, a recent
study has shown that Lake Worth has
the highest concentration of residents
who qualify for food stamps, but are
not receiving them. The area also
hosts a large percentage of residents
without health insurance, including
very young and senior populations.
Your input is invaluable to the
The types of services offered at these
success of this endeavor!
sites have an emphasis based on primary function, but access to them
remains universal. GED, ESOL, job
training, parenting classes, and
Adopt-A-Family believes Bridges
Mommy and Me classes will move over to the Highland
Beacon is a smarter way to do business. Agencies will only
Elementary School location in the fall. Additionally, Project
specialize in the activities they perform best, so these collabGROW’s after-school and out-of-school programs have
orations and melding of funding streams are the most targetalready relocated there, more than tripling the number of
ed and efficient uses of our financial support.
Bridges Support
SUMMER 2008
The installation of Bridges Beacon brings changes to the Community Resource Center Site
– including new staff Program Director Kathy Wall and Community Resource Center
Manager Joan Kieffer; Jeanned’Arc Tousignant with Families First as a Care
Coordinator; and several Adopt-A-Family staff with new positions. Dorothy Graham will
provide case management specializing in seniors, Patrick McKenna is the Volunteer
Coordinator and Community Liaison, Miriam Maldonado is a Navigator, and Gabriel
Ferrarotti is at the reception desk and assists with Food Stamp applications.
Just two blocks down the street, Highland Elementary School is the new home for that
Bridges Beacon site. There you’ll find Highland Manager Jaime-Lee Bradshaw, Project
GROW Supervisor Daron Caraballo, and GROW’s teaching staff of Viola Scott and
Courtney Rodgers. Our after-school program is there now, along with the GED/ESOL
and Family Literacy programs.
Board of Directors
John P. Marasco
President
Kitty Silverstein
Executive Vice President
Family Ties Notes
Tequisha Myles
Secretary
Deborah Rouse
Treasurer
John C. Castronuovo Immediate
Congratulations to SUPER Volunteer CRYSTAL CASTOR, who has been with the agency 20
years, and celebrated a birthday this month! We couldn’t do it without her!
JOHN DEESE, CEO of the Palm Beach County Credit Union, has joined the
Adopt-A-Family Board of Directors. Welcome!
Our very own Executive Director WENDY TIPPETT was awarded the Women's Chamber of
Commerce's Annual Giraffe Award which honors women who have "stuck their necks out"
by taking risks, applying initiative, dedication and perseverance. Congratulations Wendy!
Congratulations to Bridges Beacon Navigator MIRIAM MALDONADO for her
appointment to the Palm Beach County Homeless Advisory Board.
Staffer KELLY WILKERSON has “moved up” and is the Case Manager for the Service
Enriched Housing program.
MATT CONSTANTINE has officially taken the role and title of Deputy Director of
Adopt-A-Family. In addition to affordable housing, he now oversees all of our
programs.
Welcome to SHAROL PEREZ-NAVARRO, a new Case Manager for Project SAFE.
“Well Done!” to SAFE client CRISTELL M. who graduated from PBCC and is now
attending Florida Atlantic University.
“Good for you!” Service Enriched Housing client KELLY S. who built and moved into her
new Habitat for Humanity home.
Congratulations to the ARAUJO FAMILY, our first CLT homeowners, for winning the
Tropical Ridge Association Yard-of-the-Month!
“Excellent job!” to Service Enriched Housing client AUDREY A. and her family who moved
into a home of their own.
Congratulations to SAFE client LASHAUNDRA C. who graduated the program and is now
attending Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University (FAMU) to pursue a degree in
psychology.
Welcome to DANIEL VALENTIN and JIM SCARDAMI in the Maintenance Department, and
congrats to JOHN BEACH, the new Maintenance Supervisor. They’ve been on the ball
implementing all the property changes that have been happening lately.
Get well soon wishes to Board Member PAULA MICHEL.
Congratulations to Board Member KITTY SILVERSTEIN who has accepted the position of
Executive Vice President on our Board of Directors.
2 www.adoptafamilypbc.org
Past President
Marilyn Brafman
John D. Deese
Kalinthia R. Dillard
Heather B. Ferguson
Mari Frankel
Suzanne Frisbie
Nancy Golder
Beth Hennessy
Ruth Hennessy
Roger D. Jorn
Mary Lou Kromer
James E. Larschan
Kaela Lerner
Margaret Luntz
Jay R. Marcus
Paula Michel
Garth Rosenkrance
André Varona
Wendy A. Tippett, MNM
Executive Director
Community Resource Center
1712 Second Avenue North
Lake Worth, FL 33460-3210
Phone (561) 253-1361
Fax (561) 253-1370
Thrift Store
7637 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach, FL
33405-4815
Phone (561) 540-9343
www.AdoptAFamilyPBC.org
Golf Tournament Scores!
Ending
Homelessness
Adopt-A-Family
chaired
the
family
component of the “10-Year Plan to End
Homelessness,” presented to the Palm Beach
County Homeless Advisory Board. The plan
will go for final approval to the Palm Beach
County Commissioners in September.
“We
hope the day comes that homelessness is alleviated in Palm Beach County,” said Executive
Director Wendy Tippett. We will keep you posted as to the progress of this venture.
Co-Chairman Marc Haisfield and Golf Chairman Tom Frankel
Lowe’s Heroes
As a part of the Lowe’s Heroes home safety volunteer
program sponsored by Lowe’s and the Home Safety
Council, 10 employees from Lowe’s Royal Palm
Beach store spent the day at Adopt-A-Family’s Project
SAFE and Service Enriched Housing apartments to
install child safety items like baby gates, finger guards,
cabinet latches, outlet plugs and the like. A very special “thank you” to the Lowe’s Team out at 103 S. State
Road 7 for keeping our families safe, and to the United
Way of Palm Beach County for pairing Adopt-AFamily with Lowe’s Heroes.
First Place Winners:
Charles Virginia, Rick Luciani, Sam Fromkin and William Levine
(Steve Rockoff, pictured)
We appreciate Tom Frankel and Marc Haisfield who served as
the Chairman and Co-Chairman of Adopt-A-Family’s 16th
annual Golf Tournament at Bear Lakes Country Club. Though
the wind made play on the Links Course a challenge, the event
brought in more than $35,000 to support Adopt-A-Family’s
programs and services, benefiting homeless and at-risk families. Frankel graciously thanked the firms of Gunster Yoakley
as Award Sponsor, Admiral’s Cove Realty as Golf Ball
Sponsor and Polo Trace Golf Club as Putting Contest
Sponsor, saying “participation by these great companies has
ensured the tournament’s success!”
The First Place foursome was Charles Virginia, Rick Luciani,
Sam Fromkin and William Levine. The hotly contested
Putting Challenge winner was Andrew Simses.
Thank you, Tom and Marc.
We couldn’t have done it without you!
Our Heroes!
Leaders in helping families help themselves
3
23rd Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
... lights up the season
E
vent Chairman Wendy Labbett is thrilled to
announce that $291,000 was raised at the
Adopt-A-Family 23rd Annual Tree Lighting
Celebration, held at The Sailfish Club in Palm
Beach. The Tree Lighting Celebration supports
Adopt-A-Family’s programs and services right here in Palm
Beach County – helping at-risk families with children.
Guests shopped the silent auction – filled with wonderful
holiday items, creative gifts for the season, and our famous
selection of beautiful orchids. During dinner, the live auction
featured a week in Las Vegas, a Betteridge at Greenleaf &
Crosby gold and diamond bracelet, a fabulous gourmet dinner
with fine wines in a private Palm Beach home, a one-week
Utah Ski Trip, and the private FPL box at BankAtlantic
Center to see Barry Manilow in concert. To cap off the festivities, the Angel Tree - a permanent fixture in the club through
the holiday – decorated with angels representing “adopters”
who have helped families in the past year – was lit while the
Adopt-A-Family children sang.
The Edward L. Hennessy, Jr. and Ruth S. Hennessy
Foundation generously served as Benefactors; and Grand
Sponsors were Lawrence J. and Florence A. De George, Ed
and Linda Edelman, Celia Lipton Farris, Jim and Cindy
Larschan, and George and Paula Michel. This year’s
Sponsors were William and Martha DeBrule. Tree-Lighting
Angels included Ron and Cathy Assaf, John and Marianne
Chairman Wendy & Derek Labbett
Edward & Ruth Hennessy
Ed & Linda Edelman
Cindy & Jim Larschan
Paula & George Michel
Kathy & Ron Assaf
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Castle, Ronald and Marianne Galione, Gene and Penny
Heller, Lawrence and Jacqueline Hoff, Margaret Luntz, and
Ron and Debbie Parr.
Joining Wendy Labbett on the Tree Lighting Committee were,
Linda Argersinger and Kitty Silverstein as Chairmen of the
Children’s Project, and Alice M. Tarone as the Orchid
Chairman. The rest of this hard-working committee included:
Ruth Behrman, Diana Bell, Peg Bonvechio, Trudy B. Brekus,
Irene Casey-Ritzenthaler, Marianne Castle, Nancy Chandler,
Lori Corrigan, Herme de Wyman Miro, Martha DeBrule,
Daria Dolan, Pamela Dupuis, Debbie Dytrych, Cecile Victoria
Farris, Julie Gambale, Dona Gibbs, Elena N. Goldfeder, Beth
Hennessy, Ruth Hennessy, Vanessa Henry, Carole Hepburn,
Tish
Hoyt,
Nancy
Hyman, Carol Jeney,
BJ Kemp, Mary Lou
Kromer, Paula Michel,
Bel
Miller,
Elaine
Nicastro, Constance Nicolo,
Carol Nolan, Chris Oberlink, Diane
Paladino, Debby Parr, Annette U. Rickel,
Cindy Rooney, Alice Scanlon, Adele Siegel, Stephanie C.
Smith, Manuela Smyth, Lynn Surovek, Alma Tambone,
Barbara Thomas, Carolyn Thompson and Mary Wenk.
These and more photos can be found on our website at
www.adoptafamilypbc.org under the Special Events menu.
Ron & Debby Parr
Kay Rybovich with Marianne Castle
Elizabeth & John Wilkinson with Martha DeBrule
Harold & Lori Corrigan
Jim & Julie Gambale
Carole & Ted Hepburn with Alice Tarone
Leaders in helping families help themselves
5
Dinner and a
Show at
Project GROW
Bloomingdale’s Shopping Benefit
Adopt-A-Family has signed on with Bloomingdale’s department store to
participate in their annual Shopping Benefit. On Thursday, October 23
from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Bloomingdale’s five Florida stores will offer special
savings, entertainment, fashion shows, kid’s activities, product demonstrations and more. For $10 each, Adopt-A-Family is selling discount tickets
providing the purchaser an extra 15% to 20% savings on regular AND sale
priced merchandise, with limited exceptions. 100% of the proceeds from
ticket sales go to Adopt-A-Family, and if we can sell at least 200 tickets, the
agency will receive a portion of the day-of-event sales.
Tickets can be purchased from the Thrift
Store or from Georgia at grose@adoptafamilypbc.org or call 561/253-1361.
If you need a reason to shop, this is it!
Participating Bloomingdale’s include:
• The Gardens Mall, Palm Beach
Gardens
• Town Center Mall, Boca Raton
• Aventura Mall, Aventura
• The Falls, Miami
• The Mall at Millennia, Orlando
ACCEPTING AWARDS
Our kids followed a “green” theme
and went eco-friendly at the annual
Italian Night at Project Grow Bistro.
Not only was dinner plated and served
by the children, but they provided the
evening’s entertainment as well. The
children transformed a well-known
children’s book by Eric Carle “The Very
Hungry Caterpillar,” into a crowdpleasing play and sang “On Top of
Spaghetti” to a full house.
Executive Director Wendy Tippett accepts an appreciation award from
(l-r) Seth Bernstein, Renette Pierce and Patricia Chapman of the Health
Care District of Palm Beach County. Adopt-A-Family Staff Member
Dorothy Graham was integral in providing desperately needed
assistance to Ms. Pierce, resulting in this commendation.
Buon Appetito!
6 www.adoptafamilypbc.org
Go Team!
Season to Share
– AMY MILLER’S FAMILY
The Palm Beach Post highlighted AdoptA-Family SAFE Client Amy Miller and
her family in its 2007 Season to Share
Program – an annual holiday series that
focuses on particular stories of need
within our community. This is her story.
By the time Amy Miller came to AdoptA-Family, her four-year-old son Clayton
had already spent his life in and out of
hospitals.
Diagnosed
with
several
health issues including Floppy Infant
Syndrome, gastroesophageal reflux disease, as well as sleep apnea, Clayton
required constant hospital stays and
round-the-clock care.
Feeding tubes
and regular trips to the hospital for procedures eventually helped Clayton gain
weight and relieve him of pain, but prevented Amy from keeping a job due to
her irregular availability to work. When
Amy, Larry and Clayton - courtesy Thomas Cordy, Palm Beach Post - used with permission
she could, however, she did.
Amy met her partner Steve when she worked as a bus driver for
responded very well to a colostomy installed a year ago, greatly
a wheelchair transport vehicle company.
Steve has cerebral
reducing the number of hospital visits the family must endure.
palsy and is mobile thanks to an electric wheelchair. When Amy
There are concerns that Clayton may have other problems. He
appeared with Clayton in tow, he immediately took to Steve and
has a stilted gait, an extremely limited vocabulary and is autistic.
the feelings were mutual. Before long, Larry was born – named
A doctor has issued further tests to determine if he has muscu-
for Steve’s father.
lar dystrophy, and that verdict is not yet in.
Today, Amy and her family have been with Adopt-A-Family for
Amy and Steve used the money raised from the publication of
more than a year. Steve is a wonderful father to both boys.
the story to purchase a 2001 Dodge Caravan, outfitted with a
Steve changes diapers, and wants to care for both children while
wheelchair lift. For the first time, the family can drive to doctor
Amy pursues a degree in nursing. He is the only real, healthy
appointments, instead of taking the grossly inconvenient public
father figure Clayton has ever known and he has thrived under
transportation system. Bob Desmarais at Auto Mobility Sales in
Steve’s attention. Clayton spends his days in a medical daycare,
Lake Worth gave them a free loaner vehicle while helping work
receiving occupational, speech and physical therapy.
out the details on their new van.
Further
Thanks to Bob, and the
medical tests revealed that Clayton has Hirschprung’s disease – a
supporters of Adopt-A-Family, Amy, Steve, Clayton and Larry
potentially fatal condition where the nerves never developed in
will finally be able to live a normal life.
his large intestine, causing painful impaction.
Clayton has
Leaders in helping families help themselves
7
Charity
Navigator
We did it again!
For the second
consecutive
year
Adopt-A-Family has received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s
largest independent evaluator of charities.
Receiving four out of a possible four stars
indicates that we successfully manage the
finances in an efficient and effective manner, as compared to other charities in
America. In fact, less than a quarter of the
reviewed charities receive this distinction!
Volunteer Opportunities
If you are interested in volunteering,
please call Patrick McKenna at 561/253-1361 x136 or
pmckenna@adoptafamilypbc.org.
GED/ESOL LAB: Volunteers needed to assist the GED/ESOL
instructor tutoring adult students from 9 a.m. to noon,
any day Monday through Thursday. Classes begin in
early September.
AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM: Volunteers to tutor school-aged
children (5 – 12 years) in both math and writing skills, any
day Monday through Thursday from 3 to 6 p.m. Though it is
helpful to have some teaching experience, it is not required.
THRIFT SHOP – Retail volunteers are needed on a regular
basis Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Please contact Susanne Mayrand, Thrift Store Manager,
directly at 561/540-9343.
Check us out at
www.CharityNavigator.org.
VITA Makes A
Difference!
This past spring, 803 filers had their income
taxes prepared for free at the Community
Resource Center through VITA (Volunteer
Income Tax Assistance), an IRS and United
Way of Palm Beach County program.
Thanks to the volunteer preparers, $1.2 million in refunds was put back in the hands of
filers! County wide, more than 120 VITA
volunteers filed over 10,000 tax returns for
qualified residents. As a result, over $14
million in refunds were given back to those
who earned it. Think of the positive
impact this program has had on our community!
In order to continue VITA’s success, the
United Way needs your help as a tax preparer or a site greeter. No experience is
required for either position, and all training
is provided by the IRS. Please contact
Raymond Morse at (561) 375-6685 or
raymondmorse@unitedwaypbc.org
for
more information.
8 www.adoptafamilypbc.org
Thank You!
The hurricanes took a toll on the
campus of Adopt-A-Family, bringing
down the majority of our mature trees.
Bart and Dabney Moore came to our rescue with a significant donation of palm
trees, replacing much of the curb appeal
we lost.
Thank you Bart and Dabney!
Thrift Store & Boutique
STORE HOURS:
Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
LOCATED AT THE SHOPS OF PALM COAST
7637 South Dixie Highway
West Palm Beach
Phone (561) 540-9343
Suzanne sez – “We get new items in every day!”
We’re always looking for donations! Please call Dave
Eakin at (561) 253-1361 x105 to schedule a convenient
pick-up.
CLT Construction Update
The Hope begins with a Home capital campaign is drawing to a
close, and so is the construction of our latest Community
Land Trust project. Just down the street from Adopt-AFamily’s Community Resource Center, nine two- and threebedroom apartments to be used as affordable rentals are due
to be completed by late October.
In a recent tour of the progress, Chuck McGovern with
Stuart and Shelby (General Contractors) highlighted interesting details about this build. The units are designed to be
handicap accessible with large doorways and bathrooms to
accommodate wheel chairs; the windows and exterior doors
are impact grade – able to withstand hurricane force winds
without shuttering; and the skylights have been installed to
allow natural light over the stairwell. The apartment units
are designed to be self-contained in the event of a fire, where
the surrounding walls of the individual apartments are made
of cinderblock, preventing fire to spread to accompanying
units. Also, the apartments’ look is unique. Designed with a
structural “bump out” that will be highlighted in an unusual
color scheme, the complex is an example of how affordable
housing can still be architecturally significant and enhance
the aesthetics of the neighborhood.
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First floor completed
2
Second floor added
Publix Super Markets Charities shows its support of
affordable housing by pledging $100,000 to help us
build the 9-unit property. Pictured is District Manager
Roy Jaksch presenting the first installment to Adopt-AFamily Deputy Director Matt Constantine.
Adopt-A-Family owes a huge debt of gratitude to Gaël Beriro
for his tremendous help with contract work on the nine-unit
3
project. This Palm Beach attorney donated hours and hours
of his time so we could bring affordable rentals to Lake Worth.
Thank you, Gaël!
Finish stucco exterior has been applied
Leaders in helping families help themselves
9
Young Friends meet for
Martinis in the Marsh
Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens set the stage for the inaugural Young
Friends of Adopt-A-Family annual fundraiser Martinis
in the Marsh. For 140 of Palm Beach County’s chic
young professionals, the evening began with a silent
auction and martini reception sponsored by Incubrands
Spirits Group – featuring Alchemy and Mako Vodkas –
culminating with a movable feast and dancing till the wee
hours to Street Talk Band. A special thank you to The
Murphy Construction Company, our Entertainment
Sponsor. Everyone had loads of fun, raising $90,000 for
Adopt-A-Family and already looking forward to next
year’s event.
A round of applause to our sponsors – Harry and Roberta
Golub, Florida Power & Light, Regions Bank, Friends of Adopt-A-Family
as the Auction Room Sponsor, Stuart and Allison Haft, Stephen and Carolyn
Haggerty, Joe and Pasena Maroun, Palm Beach Prayer Team Ministries,
James Robo and Meredith Trim. UBS Private Bank as Photography sponsor
ensured guests had a beautiful snapshot to commemorate the evening,
and lovely take-home gifts were provided by Saks Fifth Avenue in
Palm Beach Gardens.
On the Young Friends Committee are John Castronuovo,
Sofia De Ferrari, Beth Hennessy, Kaela Lerner, Karen
Marasco, Kelly McFadden, Elena Murphy, Mary Murphy,
Beth Ryan, Kitty Silverstein, Shawnna Tuscai,
Cakki Warren, and André Varona.
Adam & Beth Ryan
10 www.adoptafamilypbc.org
Shawnna & TJ Tuscai
Perry & Kaela Lerner
Larry & Kitty Silverstein
Karen & John Marasco
Cakki & Brian Warren
Roberta & Harvey Golub
Kim & Andre Varona
Marty, Barbara, Elena, Marty and Mary Murphy
Kyle & Kelly McFadden
Sofia & Drew DeFerrari
Leaders in helping families help themselves
11
Non-Profit
Organization
U. S. Postage
PAID
West Palm Beach, FL
Permit No. 529
1712 Second Avenue North
Lake Worth, FL 33460-3210
A DOPT-A-FAMILY
IS DEDICATED
TO
FAMILIES
RESTORING
CRISIS
TO
STABILITY
IN
AND
SELF- SUFFICIENCY BY PROVIDING
ALL- ENCOMPASSING SERVICES TO
FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN .
Town of Palm Beach
United Way
SAVE t h e d a t e
Bloomingdale’s Shopping Benefit
24th Annual Tree Lighting Celebration
Thursday, October 23
Tuesday, December 2
Purchase a $10 ticket today to receive a
discount on merchandise at all area
Bloomingdale’s on this day only.
The Sailfish Club, Palm Beach
Chairman Wendy Labbett,
Co-Chairman Debra Parr
Tickets $250 per person
Annual Meeting
Wednesday, November 19
6 p.m.
Location to be determined
Annual Santa Shoppe
Saturday, December 13
Contact Kelly (x102) or Patrick (x136) if you
wish to volunteer