The Wellington Jewish Center

Chanukah Festival

presents

Yoel Sharabi

in concert

6:00 PM

Wednesday, December 16, 2009

at

The Wellington Community Center

Free Concert. Suggested donation $18

Supper and Chanukah food available for purchase

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