FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: 

Maureen Gross

Director of Development

Palms West Community Foundation

maureen@palmswest.com

 (561)790-6200 office

(561)714-0887 cell

(561)793-4181 home

PALMS WEST COMMUNITY FOUNDATION CAR RAFFLE 2009

Santa Claus is coming to town… will he have a shiny, new car  in his sleigh for you?

Chances are good that he will, if you have purchased your $100 raffle ticket from the Palms West Community Foundation.  The winning ticket for a $30,000 car will be drawn by Santa, himself, on the afternoon of December 13^th, following the Annual Palms West Holiday Parade.

The winner will get to stroll the showrooms of Royal Palm Nissan, Royal Palm Mazda and Royal Palm Toyota and select any car of their choice in the Auto Mall valued at $30,000 or less.  And if the winner selects a car that costs a little bit more than $30,000, the dealership will work with them to finance the difference.

The Palms West Community Foundation will be using the proceeds from the sale of the the raffle tickets to offset some of the costs of the new 4,000 sq.ft. building that will be the future home of the Foundation and the Palms West Chamber of Commerce.  The facility features a 1,000 square foot community conference room that will be available for use by local organizations. To buy a raffle ticket, please call Maureen Gross at (561)790-6200, or go online at www.palmswest.com. Since there will only be 1,000 tickets sold, your chance are VERY good that Santa just might be bringing you that shiny, new car this year!

Feeding Those In Need on Christmas Eve

Have you ever wanted to do something, but for whatever reason – never did? Maybe it was play a particular sport, get a specific job, or just simply help someone else out?  I know… for whatever reason, “life” gets in the way.  Today, I am determined to not let life get in my way.  I have always wanted to get involved in helping my community, especially children, and do something to give back.  I’ve never had a specific passion, but I just wanted to help in someway.  Here’s how it all started:

Around this time last year, I decided to make some phone calls so I could volunteer my time on Christmas Eve to help serve meals to the less fortunate.  Much to my surprise (and I suspect yours too), phone call after phone call, I found out that there were not any organizations (in our area) serving a Christmas Eve meal to those who would otherwise not have one. 

Every day, my company Fine Lions works with clients who are fortunate enough to enjoy home-ownership.  Many others are not as fortunate.  Many families are homeless… many single moms are homeless… many children are homeless.  Yes, right here in our community!  So here’s my idea…I want to help people who are less fortunate and who are in need.

This year, I started spreading the word that I wanted to coordinate an event where a meal (and perhaps some entertainment and gifts) would be offered to people less fortunate than me and my family.  Still not sure what direction to go, I was talking to a friend of mine who put me in touch with Deborah Morgan (she is the hard-working Executive Director for Palm Beach Harvest, a 5013C non-profit charity here in Palm Beach County). Here’s the story she told me at our first meeting:

“I was visiting a local school to gather information about the hunger issue in Palm Beach County.” (Can you even believe that hunger is an issue in such an affluent area?!) “During this interview, I asked a little boy what he had for breakfast that morning and he seemed hesitant to answer… like he might get in trouble. After some prodding, the little boy finally told me that he did not have breakfast that morning.  I asked him why not and he replied “it was not my turn to eat.”

I get chills thinking about the existence of this situation, and I knew when I heard this story that I wanted to help.

Consequently, I have founded F.I.N. – Families In Need – and together with Palm Beach Harvest, we are organizing our first Christmas Eve meal to feed hungry families. This event will take place at 2:00 p.m. at the Salvation Army and includes a full holiday meal along with entertainment and festivities. 

“Great” you say, “what does that have to do with me?” As you know, I am not usually one to ask for help. But today, I am asking. To make this event successful, I need your support.  I cannot do it alone.  I need help with planning, implementing and organizing, as well as financial contributions. If you’re not up for hands-on pitching in, please consider what you are able to provide.

Really, no amount is too little. If you can spare even just $1.00, then that buys a gift from the dollar store for a child who may not get anything else for the holidays. If you can spare $100.00, then that will buy food for several families who may not otherwise have anything to eat that day! Put it this way: If everyone I know donates $2.00, we will have plenty of funds to make this a successful and memorable event!

This celebration will be put together completely by a volunteer effort, so every single penny donated will go to the food and festivities. Oh, and just so you know, your donation is completely tax deductible.

I am truly thrilled to be leading this effort to help feed hungry families at what is supposed to be an especially joyous time of the year! I hope my enthusiasm is infectious and you will want to help too. If you do, please send your donations to Palm Beach Harvest c/o Fine Lions, 6742 Forest Hill Blvd. #119, West Palm Beach, Florida 33413 – or call me at 561.253.4814 and let’s figure out how you can get involved.

I don’t usually ask for help – it is hard for me.  But this time it’s easy.  This time, I’m asking for you to help me… help others.  It’s the right thing to do!

Christine Smith

Fine Lions, Inc.
6742 Forest Hill Boulevard, #119
West Palm Beach, FL  33413
Phone: 561.253.4814
Fax: 561.784.0979
email: c.smith@finelions.com
www.finelions.com

HOLIDAY FANTASY OF LIGHTS AT TRADEWINDS PARK

Tradewinds Park in Coconut Creek, FL will again be a fantasy of color, lights and design this holiday season. This spectacular drive-through holiday lighting event is brought back to Coconut Creek in 2009 through the generous efforts of the Alzheimer’s Family Center, Life Publications, 101.5 LITE FM, Brandano Displays, Broward County Parks Department and the City of Coconut Creek.

The 15th edition of the Holiday Fantasy of Lights, featuring three miles of giant animated holiday displays and illuminated trees, is larger than ever.  Enjoy a blend of displays ranging from traditional favorites to modern wonders; all creations by Brandano Displays, Inc. Capacity crowds are expected, attracting over 150,000 visitors of all ages in 35,000 cars, trucks, motor homes and buses.

The Holiday Fantasy of Lights at Tradewinds Park presents exciting sponsorship and marketing opportunities for regional businesses that can show their public appreciation by bringing this exciting holiday event back to South Florida.

http://www.holidaylightsdrivethru.com/

Wednesday, December 2nd 11:00am -12 pm (PBG Location)
New Product Release & Preview for New Moms – A Latte Fun is thrilled to be the venue for the National Market launch of a fantastic new infant development product for ages 1 month-13 months, Time to Play Baby. The creators happen to be from right here in Palm Beach County and are giving YOU the opportunity to meet them and participate in a sneak-peek demonstration class led by THE CREATORS! Time to Play Baby provides a year’s worth of baby classes and activities all in a box and helps families save money, time and stress. Come preview this new and exciting product and the bagels and coffee are on us! To see more about Time to Play Baby visit: www.timetoplaybaby.com

PALM BEACH COUNTY’S OWN TOMMY BATCHELOR, AKA BROADWAY’S BILLY ELLIOT, TO MAKE PERSONAL APPEARANCE AT 26^TH ANNUAL PALMS WEST CHAMBER’S HOLIDAY PARADE IN WELLINGTON 
 
 

Thirteen year old Tommy Batchelor of Palm Beach Gardens,  star of “Billy Elliot the Musical”, Broadway’s smash hit featuring the music of Elton John, and winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards, will be making a personal appearance at the Palms West Chamber’s “Hometown Holidays” Parade on Sunday, December 13^th in Wellington.   Tommy credits his training at Palm Beach County schools and dance studios for his successful path to the Great White Way, achieving  his goal way ahead of his dance teacher’s prediction that he would be on Broadway by the time he was 20!    

Tommy is looking forward to meeting fans of the musical that has captured Broadway’s heart and to signing autographs at the parade staging area, located near Sun Bank at the original Wellington Mall, between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. immediately before the start of the 26^th anniversary parade.

For further information or to participate in the Holiday Parade, visit www.palmswest.com or call Anitra Harmon at 561-790-6200. 

The Palms West Chamber is the regional chamber for the west central communities of Wellington, Royal Palm Beach, Greenacres, Loxahatchee Groves and the Acreage/Loxahatchee

The one name on everybody’s lips is BILLY. BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL is the new show that has captured Broadway’s heart and received the best reviews for any musical in years. Called “EXTRAORDINARILY UPLIFTING” by Time Out New York and “INTOXICATING” by The New York Times, BILLY ELLIOT is a joyous, exciting and feel-good celebration of one boy following his heart and making his dreams come true.

NEWS FROM THE WELLINGTON ART SOCIETY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December artist announced for W.A.S. online gallery
Sandra Lynn Axelrod’s jewelry designs featured on Society’s website

Wellington, FL, November 13, 2009 – The Wellington Art Society’s online Gallery Show will sparkle in December with jewelry designer Sandra Lynn Axelrod’s unique gems.

Axelrod, of Wellington, is a W.A.S. member and owner of Sandra Lynn Designs. Her one of a kind, original jewelry pieces are made with high quality pearls, gemstones, Swarovski crystals, gold, copper, brass, steel and sterling silver.

Her newest works, from the Garden, Ocean and Sky Collections, draw inspiration from her Florida surroundings, including specific tropical flowers, butterflies, fish and seashells.  “I have always had a fascination with the beauty of nature . . . the design possibilities are endless,” the artist said.

Axelrod’s special talent lies in her use of colorful gems, such as amethyst, peridot, tanzanite and garnet, among others, which she uses to capture the colors of Florida’s glorious creatures.

Earlier this year the U.S. Commerce Association selected her for the 2009 Best of Wellington Award in the Jewelers category.  One of her award winning pieces toured the United States and is now on file in the  Smithsonian Institute.

The online show features twelve Sandra Lynn designs and runs through December 31st.  All works are available for purchase. You can view the exhibit by visiting the Gallery Show section on the Society’s website, www.welingtonartsociety.org.

Founded in 1981, The Wellington Art Society is open to artists of all mediums and patrons of the arts, providing both local and regional artists the platform to share their work, learn more about their craft and serve the community through their art.

A 501(c)(3) charitable organization, its mission is to educate and encourage originality and productivity among its members and area youth through programs designed to further the advancement of cultural endeavors in the western communities.

For more information, visit their website, www.wellingtonartsociety.org, or call W.A.S. President Adrianne Hetherington at 561-784-7561.

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