CENTER FOR CREATIVE EDUCATION NAMES NEW DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT
As the arts integration nonprofit enters its 20th anniversary, new hire was strategic
(WEST PALM BEACH) As the Center for Creative Education (CCE) enters its 20th anniversary year of providing arts integration services to Palm Beach County students, Cecilia St. Hilaire has joined the organization as director of development, according to CCE CEO, Robert Hamon.
In her new role, St. Hilaire will be responsible for all aspects of a comprehensive donor program, including fundraising, event management, donor data management, board member development and donor communications for the West Palm Beach based nonprofit. She recently served as director of development, operations and finance for Opportunity Inc. for nine years.
“This move allows me to continue my passion for children’s education in an organization with a broader reach across Palm Beach County,” said St. Hilaire. “CCE’s mission of arts integration is a way to even the playing field for disadvantaged children at risk of failure and it allows academically advanced students an opportunity to explore higher order thinking processes. We are looking for supporters who care about art, education and children. I am truly excited about this new role!”
Since its inception 20 years ago, approximately 150,000 children have experienced CCE’s method of merging art with academics to bring learning to life, engaging children in hands-on, project-based education. CCE teaching artists use the arts as a vehicle to help students gain greater understanding of science, math, literacy and other areas of learning.
Traditionally CCE works with disadvantaged students at school sites all over Palm Beach County, providing after-school and in school programming to many students considered “at risk.” In addition, they are hired by private and independent schools to provide arts integrated instruction.
“As we look toward the next 20 years of this organization,” said Hamon, “we knew that this position would be critical to our continued evolution. Our timing was strategic and we know we have recruited the right individual to fill this important role.
“CCE is the largest provider of after-school services in Palm Beach County, and yet, we can only fulfill less than half of the requests we get because of lack of funding,” he continued. “That means we are turning away thousands of children a year. Cecilia’s skill set is perfectly suited for CCE. She has a strong record of financial and operational success with incredible knowledge of non-profit management. Her success within the philanthropic community in South Florida is a tremendous asset and we are thrilled with her addition to our team.”
In addition to her professional role, St. Hilaire volunteers as a long-standing board commissioner of the Westgate CRA, a member of the West Palm Beach Rotary Club, the Planned Giving Council of the Palm Beaches, the Northwood Renaissance marketing committee and the Circles Guiding Coalition of Palm Beach County.
A native of the Caribbean island of Dominica, she currently divides her time between homes in Wellington and Lighthouse Point.
For information on CCE’s in-school and after-school programming, classes in its Northwood Village headquarters, to participate in events or make a donation to benefit at-risk school programs, please visit www.cceflorida.org or call 561-805-9927.
Film maker Michael LaFrance and Artist Freedom Rodriguez collaborate on their project in Kenya “Facing Freedom”
Artist Freedom Rodriguez and film maker Michael LaFrance are collaborating on a life-changing project in Kenya called “Facing Freedom.” Atlanta-based artist Freedom Rodriguez visited the slums of Kenya and made a decision to paint people who are struggling with Aids. Thanks to an organization called Care for Aids and the independent film that LaFrance is making, Freedom is bringing these beautiful faces to light. Freedom has painted 100 portraits – all on the covers of discarded books. The independent documentary film will be called “Facing Freedom.”
I had the opportunity to interview Freedom Rodriguez, the artist, and South Florida film maker Michael LaFrance.
Freedom Rodriguez
AW: How did you choose Kenya for this project? How did you choose Care for Aids as the organization to work with?
Freedom: We partnered with Care for Aids and their focus is Kenya. Collaboration with Care for Aids happened after I went to one of their fundraisers and I was touched by their stories. I was particularly touched by the two directors from Kenya. I proposed this art project to them.
AW: What do you hope to express through your art, Freedom?
Freedom: Dignity is the first word that comes to mind. I think people need to be seen in a dignified manner. There are a lot of stories going around about this issue of Aids, but I’m trying to capture the strength and hope that people have, who are living with Aids. I want to portray people as being beautiful, no matter what caste or economic state they’re in – they are worth the attention.
AW: How did you decide to paint on the covers of discarded books?
Freedom: It all happened with painting portraits of children who I met in Uganda. I had all of these photos from my trips in 2004 and 2006. I was struck by the fact that these precious children were also “discarded” in a way. Books that are old, shabby- looking stained and ripped pages are often stamped “discarded.” I decided to take those books home and paint the children’s faces on the books. These children have a story worth reading – they deserve a book of their own.
AW: What impresses you most about the people you’ve met in Kenya, faced with Aids?
Michael: I was blown away and humbled by being invited into their homes and hearing their stories. They love to open up and share their stories. I learned very quickly that there’s more to it (when it comes to filming) than popping up the tripod. Things go at a much slower pace in Kenya. They were very willing to tell their story. I really wanted to make sure I expressed it and filmed it the right way. They have lived rough lives, but they’re very happy and there’s a lot of hope in them.
Freedom: I agree. Everyone has their measure of hardship in life. But there’s something extraordinary when you go to another country. It’s the whole cross-cultural connection where you’re sharing each other’s stories. There’s a lot of value in sharing each other’s stories. Whether it’s something tragic or something good, we see that we value each other. It will bring a movement of change if we value the people like they should be valued. It was really inspiring to me to hear their stories – a lot of challenges, beyond poverty. They face a whole social stigma of having Aids – some are even ostracized by their community (even by their family). However, the tail end of the story is they are not defeated. They are empowered by the support they receive from Care for Aids. We are going to take every measure we can to make sure they receive support and love.
Michael: People who usually get their portraits painted are historically usually of high power and class – kings and queens. Here are these people who are not in a position of power, and we are giving a voice to the voiceless.
Freedom: Especially in the more rural, slum areas, these people value seeing a picture of themselves. Some have never been exposed to cameras. It brings honor to their family – just to have these portraits. In particular, I’m happy to be showing respect to a wonderful lady (who unfortunately has passed away) – she did everything she could to raise her children in the best way possible. Just bringing the portrait back to the family on our return trip will be very special.
Michael: Freedom and I traveled to Kenya last August and we got great footage for the film. The next step is to film Freedom delivering the portraits to the people. We want to tell the story and come full circle. This is about creative activism, how artists can really work with an organization and facilitate that help. Art can play a key role in raising awareness.
AW: How many portraits have you done?
Freedom: We are up to 200 portraits now. The first hundred were children from Uganda, my “vision portraits.” I call it the Face-to-Face initiative. These portraits tell the stories of orphans – because their parents died of Aids. These are poor children who are caring for adults. These are beautiful faces staring right back at you. And yes, there is a greater need – for food, shelter, clothing, medicine. But there is a strong force behind art and creativity too. Art puts the color (or life) into charitable causes.
Michael: It’s not just the art, but the art telling the story. It’s creative activism – Freedom’s own initiative. With this film “Facing Freedom,” we are focused on the 100 faces in Kenya. When Freedom went to Uganda, one of his realizations was – “I don’t really know their stories.” Fast forward to Kenya, this time we were really having the opportunity to sit down and get to know the people’s stories.
AW: Michael and Freedom, how long have you known each other?
Michael: About 15 years. We met through a mutual friend while studying at the Art Institute in Ft.Lauderdale. We kept in touch periodically. Back about 4 years ago, I called Freedom and was interested in some art work that he did. I wanted to buy some artwork for my apartment. He invited me to Kenya. I wasn’t ready at that time. In August of 2013, I saw he was posting some things about Kenya. I thought the story was amazing. I wanted to do a documentary on it. Next thing you know I’m on a flight to Kenya. I was only there for about 12 days. Freedom was there for an extended time (21 days) and interviewed 100 people. He amazingly painted 100 portraits in 5 weeks. He was aiming to meet the deadline for the Care for Aids Gala in October. He basically sold the entire collection that evening. A great success! This year they had the gala and they put out a coffee table book with all 100 faces.
AW: Michael, how different is it for you, as someone who produces a lot of wedding videos, to switch gears and work on this independent film?
Michael: I really thought it wouldn’t be that difficult – but it requires a lot more organization. Doing a documentary involves logging your footage and keeping track of your interviews. I was overwhelmed when I came back from Kenya. Weddings are happy. There’s no tragedy in a wedding. There’s no conflict. It’s not a complete story like a documentary – there are no ups and downs. Luckily, I have a friend named Talia Day, who is a producer. Talia saw my post on Instagram and she came into my life, making things easier for me. As our producer, she has helped with organizing my footage and organizing the whole project.
AW: What’s something most people don’t know about Kenya and its people, but you wish they did know?
Freedom: There are a lot of stories about Africa, and there’s a lot of truth regarding the hardships, the corruption and the difficult things. But I just think that there are so many greater, more wonderful, life-giving stories to be told. I ad mire their strength as a people, expressing resilience, hope, faith. There is not anger, not resentment or frustration or retaliation in any way. These are people who believe in peace. There’s a whole stronger side to what’s being reported. This is true for Kenya and for Africa as a whole too.
AW: Tell us about your fundraising through Kickstarter. How can people get involved in making this film happen?
Michael: Here’s the website for our Kickstarter page – https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1745358395/facing-freedom/posts. We have been receiving pledges from $10 to $1000 so far. When you donate, some of the perks are digital copies of the film, t-shirts designed by Freedom or personal portraits by Freedom. We’ve been trying to be very social and as social media-wise as possible. We have less than 30 days to reach our goal of $17 K. With Kickstarter, you make your goal or lost it all. We want to get this film ready for film festivals. It’s expensive to complete the film and enter it into various film festivals. Our deadline is Jan. 12, 2015. We are trying to talk with as many people as possible about raising funds.
AW: What are planning to do when you return to Kenya?
Michael: We will be gathering more footage of interviews and returning the portrait prints to the people. People supported Care for Aids by buying the original artwork, and then we made prints to give back to the people in Kenya.
AW: How will you promote the video? What kind of awareness do you hope to bring about with this video?
Michael: Using mini-videos, we will be building it up via social media. Once the film is completed, we’ll figure out which film festivals to target and create the buzz from there. This project is just a beginning. I can see several different future projects like this one. I consider this a blue print for next project.
Freedom: When it comes to awareness, I want to show the other side of what you normally hear through the media about Africa. The people were willing to share their stories to encourage other people. There’s hope to be found and life to be shared. These are the people who deserve to be heard the most. I see them as “my celebrities.” I find more life and strength in being with these folks face to face. That’s why I call it the Face-to-Face Initiative. They are in the most need of attention and collaboration. I am the father of three kids – ages 11, 9, 4. I’d like my children to feel like we have easy access to people in need around the world and not feel like we’re separated. “Facing Freedom” is one way to unite people.
***
Find out more about Facing Freedom or donate to the project.
THIRD ANNUAL PALM BEACH COUNTY DRUG ABUSE SUMMIT IS A SUCCESS
Program garners support from government agencies, community thought leaders and more
By LILA PHOTO.
(Jupiter, Fla.) Nearly 150 concerned members of the public gathered recently to explore the current state of mental health and drug abuse at the third annual Palm Beach County Drug Abuse Summit. The free discussion was open to the public, thanks to co-hosts Hanley Center Foundation, Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience, Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office and The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation, and included panels featuring prominent members of the healthcare and law enforcement communities, scientists, elected officials, educators and other community leaders. The half-day discussion took place at Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience on Tuesday, December 9.
“The Palm Beach County Drug Abuse Summit’s mission is to effectively inform and educate the local community about the impact of mental health and substance abuse,” said Dr. Rachel Docekal, CEO of Hanley Center Foundation. “The partnership between so many different agencies was impressive. We are grateful to our co-hosts and the esteemed panel participants, who recognize the importance of collaboration to improve awareness, treatment options and community education. We hope this event incites a continued impactful discussion of issues and solutions.”
In its third year, the Summit continues to grow. Presented in the past by Hanley Center Foundation and the Sherriff’s office, the addition of Max Planck Florida Institute for Neuroscience and The Ryan Licht Sang Bipolar Foundation allowed for an expanded conversation to include mental health issues in Palm Beach County.
“Disease is personal – whether it is you, your spouse, your child, a friend or neighbor,” said Barbara Suflas Noble, Max Planck Foundation CEO. “As a community it is our responsibility to become more aware, more informed and better educated on resources, treatments and research in rising and devastating conditions effecting us all. Our researchers are committed to doing their part to impact our local community, which is why we were proud to co-host this important and necessary event and we are grateful to Hanley Center Foundation for initiating this collaboration.”
The Summit included three different panel topics, with several different experts featured in each panel, and was moderated by WPTV NewsChannel 5 Anchor Michael Williams.
Sponsors included: Presenting Sponsor Florida Power & Light Company and Corporate Sponsor Origins Recovery Centers.
(West Palm Beach, FL – December 18, 2014) Bustling with gamblers, gangsters, and sassy showgirls, GUYS AND DOLLS celebrates Broadway’s golden era with one of the greatest scores ever written for a musical by the legendary Frank Loesser, masterfully witty book and lyrics by Joe Swerling and comedy legend Abe Burrows, and the glorious Damon Runyon’s comic book world of 1940s Times Square New York City. GUYS AND DOLLS takes the stage for one night only at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts December 31 at 8 pm. Tickets are on sale now.
GUYS AND DOLLS originally conquered Broadway in 1951 running for over 1200 performances and the winner of 5 Tony® Awards including Best New Musical, and again in 1992 with 4 Tony® Awards including Best Revival of a Musical. The New York Times calls it ‘The show that defines Broadway dazzle!”
Considered by many to be the perfect musical comedy, GUYS AND DOLLS introduces audiences to a cast of characters who have become legends in the musical theatre world: Sarah Brown, the upright but uptight “mission doll,” out to reform the evil-doers of Time Square; Sky Masterson, the slick, high-rolling gambler who woos her on a bet to Cuba and ends up falling in love; Adelaide, the chronically ill nightclub performer whose condition is brought on by the fact she’s been engaged to the same man for 14 years; and Nathan Detroit, her devoted fiancé, desperate as always to find a spot for his infamous floating crap game.
Frank Loesser’s toe-tapping score, including fan favorites such as “Luck Be a Lady,” “Sit Down You’re Rockin’ the Boat,” and “I’ve Never Been in Love Before” is the perfect musical complement to Runyon’s colorful characters.
GUYS AND DOLLS is sponsored by Gunster. The performance takes place Wednesday, December 31 at 8 pm. Tickets start at $35 and may be purchased on-line at the Official Kravis Center Box Office www.kravis.org/guysanddolls; in person at the Box Office located at 701 Okeechobee Blvd. in West Palm Beach; or by phone at 561-832-7469. Group orders of ten or more receive a discount by calling 561-651-4438 or 561-651-4304.
About the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts:
The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts is a not-for-profit performing arts center whose mission is to enhance the quality of life in Palm Beach County by presenting a diverse schedule of national and international artists and companies of the highest quality; by offering comprehensive arts education programs; by providing a Palm Beach County home in which local and regional arts organizations can showcase their work; and by providing economic catalyst and community leadership in West Palm Beach, supporting efforts to increase travel and tourism to Palm Beach County.
GUYS AND DOLLS is produced by Big League Productions. Led by President and Executive Producer Daniel Sher, Big League is celebrating its 26th season of producing, general managing and booking Broadway musicals and special attractions for touring throughout North America and the world. For more information visit www.bigleague.org.
Come and be amazed at the talent of these remarkable young musicians! Kretzer Piano Music Foundation presents this concert as part of their ongoing Music for the Mind concert series to benefit music education and children’s charities.
Our January concert will feature extraordinary young musicians.
Proceeds from this concert will go to Kretzer Piano Music Foundation to help fund the “Kretzer Kids” program. The Kretzer Kids are a group of middle and high school music students that perform for nursing homes, assisted living facilities and prominent venues throughout Palm Beach and Martin County.
The Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace
700 S. Rosemary Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33401
Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets may be purchased at the door or by calling Kretzer Piano at 561-748-0036.
About Music for the Mind:Held on the third Tuesday of every month in the Harriet Himmel Theater at CityPlace, Music for the Mind concerts feature musical groups from Palm Beach County. Beginning in 2002, the concerts have provided 9,600 young musicians the opportunity to perform while raising over $450,000 to help promote music in our schools and community. Sponsors include Classical South Florida 90.7, CityPlace and the Kretzer Piano Music Foundation. Learn more at www.kretzerpiano.com/kpmf.
Friday and Saturday Evenings in January are packed with activity on J Street in Lake Worth. Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, at 15 South J Street, is at the midst of this activity with openings and parties every Friday and Saturday in January. These events are free to the public, and include a wine and cheese reception, usually with wonderful, live music. The events begin at 6PM. Doors close at 10PM.
The Common Grounds Coffee Bar has filled its walls with the works of local artists. Every few months the exhibit changes. Weekend evenings are filled with open stages and concerts. Special events with family friendly celebrities are scheduled throughout the year.
Excelsior Comics and Collectables exhibits the arts of cartoonists and comic book specialists. They bring in special characters for events and games. With a huge parking lot area behind their building, they plan days and evenings of fun for comic book enthusiasts.
Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, 15 South J Street in Downtown Lake Worth, has arts events planned for every Friday and Saturday evening through April. Every Saturday Evening, from 6-10 PM, musicians congregate at their Bamboo Shoots Cafe for Jam Sessions, Juggling, free snacks and beverages. Ryan Delaneuville is always on hand to create Chain Maille and demonstrate the process.
Friday, January 2, Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery presents the works of Adrianna Ficarelli, “Rings, Bling and Adornable Things.” The event will take place at the gallery from 6-10 PM. Adriana creates jewelry from metals, polymer clay, beads and gemstones. From sheer elegance to arty, hand-crafted arm and ear adornments, Adriana brings a new look and dimension to the high quality jewelry stage she now shares with other gallery artists. Her silver rings, orbiting with precious gems are quickly becoming a “must-have” on the fingers of gallery customers.
Friday, January 9, Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery features Vandy, with her, “Where The Wild Things Are.” Vandy, one of the most creative and prolific artists in the region, has mastered Papier Mache, bringing to us, a panoply of creatures, visual puns and social commentary. On the walls are her exquisitely crafted paintings, whose subjects do not fall far from the 3-D source.
Friday, January 16, Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery presents Sara McLennand’s “The Nature of Sensuality.” Sara takes the bounties of the earth, those dried and discarded seeds, fronds, leaves and twigs, and transforms them into works of undulating, sensual rhythms. Her works are enhanced with encaustic waxing, on both the frond elements as well as the bases. This brings out the depth and aura. The sensual message cannot be mistaken.
Friday, January 23 thru Monday, January 26, Art Palm Beach is Welcomed in Lake Worth. Flamingo Clay Studio, the non-profit parent organization of Clay Glass Metal Stone Gallery, will hold an open house at the Gallery and its new studio, located at 216 South F Street, in Lake Worth. The Flamingo Clay Studio, will formally open its doors in January. Both Studio and Gallery artists will be exhibiting and demonstrating in Clay, Fused Glass and Small Metals skills during this period. Receptions will be scheduled at both locations.
Clay§Glass§Metal§Stone Cooperative Gallery is sponsored by the Flamingo Clay Studio, a non-profit arts organization whose mission is to provide affordable studio and gallery space for three-dimensional artists. The gallery is located at 15 South J Street in downtown Lake Worth. Hours are Sunday thru Tuesday, 10AM-5PM. Wednesday thru Saturday, 10AM-10PM. Gallery openings are the first and third Friday of each month from 6-9 PM with many special events in-between. For information call Joyce Brown-215-205-9441 or Joyce@flamingoclaystudio.org Gallery phone: 561-588-8344.
Event: New Year Resolutions storytime, activities and snack.
Date: Saturday, January 10th, 12:00 PM
Event: Please Mr. Panda storytime, activities and snack.
Date: Tuesday, January 13th, 7:00 PM
Event: New York Times’ Bestselling Author Tami Hoag visits to promote her newest release, Cold Cold Heart. The author will speak and sign copies of her books purchased at Barnes & Noble Wellington the day of the event.
Date: Thursday, January 15th, 4:00-7:00 PM
Event: Annual Bookfair fundraiser for Binks Forest Elementary school.
Date: Saturday, January 17th, 11:00 AM
Event: The Hug Machine storytime, activities and snack.
Date: Monday, January 19th, 11:00 AM
Event: Martin Luther King, Jr. event featuring storytime, activities and snack.
Date: Saturday, January 24th, 11:00 AM
Event: I Love You Night and Day storytime, activities and snack.
Date: Saturday, January 24th, 12:00 PM
Event: Children’s author Janice Petrie storytime and activities. The author will speak and sign copies of her books purchased at Barnes & Noble Wellington the day of the event.
Date: Saturday, January 31st, 11:00 AM
Event: Minion Invasion! Storytime, snack and activities themed around the Minions from the Despicable Me franchise.
December, 2014 – “Beat Nick,” A Competition that Encourages Young Golfers
December 30th at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club
By Krista Martinelli
Golf is on the decline in the U.S., especially among young people. However, the people at Wycliffe Golf & Country Club are trying to turn that around. They are hosting a special event, which has a competitive part and an instructional part to it, just for young people interested in golf. On December 30th, young golfers are going to have the chance to “Beat Nick,” which will be a difficult task if you know anything about eleven-year-old rising star Nick Staub.
The 11-year-old golf sensation Nick Staub. Photo by Steve Hollander.
At Wycliffe’s Annual Junior Golf Clinic, special guest Nick Staub will be demonstrating his skills and challenging anyone to beat his putting ability. So far, Staub has equaled the course records of Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy when they were his age. “He generates enthusiasm for the game of golf,” says Wycliffe Director of Golf Lynn Stebbins.
“I know Nick. And I know of the decline of golf. This is a great way that Wycliffe can encourage younger people to play golf,” says Stebbins.
According to Time Magazine, “Golfer numbers are down. Golf equipment sales have been tanking. The number of golf courses closing annually is supposed to dwarf the number of new courses opening for years to come. ‘We really don’t know what the bottom is in golf,’ Dick’s Sporting Goods CEO Edward Stack said in a recent conference call.”
Nick Staub on the course. Photo by Steve Hollander.
Locally, people are hoping that Nick Staub might spark that interest in golf among young people, as Tiger Woods did in his earlier years. Staub’s father Peter is a local tennis pro. While Peter Staub tried to get his son into tennis at first, Nick always wanted to play golf. These days Nick is home schooled, is learning at an eleventh grade level and plays golf every day.
When Nick Staub has played at Wycliffe, he shoots par…from the blue tees. According to Stebbins, Staub can look at a course and quickly size it up, memorizing every little hill. When Staub putts, he doesn’t look at the ball. He looks at the hole. “He has a phenomenal short game,” says Stebbins. At the age of eight, Staub had already won 65 golf tournaments.
On Tuesday, December 30th, Staub will give a short talk about what makes golf so fun for him and why he loves the sport. The day will also include a junior club fitting and demo presented by US Kids Golf. The event is presented for children and grandchildren of Wycliffe members.
MUMMIES AND MODELS HIGHLIGHT SCIENCE CENTER BENEFIT KICKOFF
Saks Fifth Avenue hosts private fashion show with Afterlife exhibition as the backdrop
Frances and Jeffrey Fisher. CAPEHART Photography.
(West Palm Beach, Fla.) Models mixed with mummies at the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium’s recent benefit kickoff last Thursday. Staged throughout the Center’s newest blockbuster exhibition, Afterlife: Tombs & Treasures of Ancient Egypt, the ladies were adorned in glamorous Monique Lhuillier fashions, generously organized by benefit sponsor Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach. Plans were announced for the Center’s March 5 event, “Get Hooked! Adventures with River Monsters’ Jeremy Wade,” which takes place at The Breakers. Animal Planet’s popular show host, Wade, will treat guests to a lively discussion about conservation, drawing anecdotes from his world-wide travels. Sponsors of “Get Hooked!” will be invited to an informal family night with Jeremy Wade at the Science Center on Friday, March 6, 2015.
“We are thrilled that Jeremy Wade, host of ‘River Monsters,’ will be our guest speaker at this year’s benefit event,” said 2015 benefit co-chair, Frances Fisher. “Wade’s experience and travel is sure to ignite an exciting conversation about conservation, which we can apply to our efforts locally. The Science Center continues to be the leader in informal science education in our community, routinely expanding the Center and its offerings. In fact, they will soon have a new early childhood education exhibition and a brand new 18-hole golf course, appropriately named the ‘Conservation Course.’ ‘Get Hooked!’ is timely and relevant to everyone and every age group.”
Jeremy Wade is a biologist, extreme angler and writer specializing in travel and natural history. He is best known for using fishing as a means to look beneath the surface of human life in remote places. An expert in ecology, rivers and conservation, Wade’s objective is to teach about animals which people are unfamiliar, his philosophy being “you can’t care about what you don’t know about.” Animal Planet’s most popular show, “River Monsters” was created to advocate for an appreciation of animals, delivering ecological and environmental lessons with a fine mix of suspense-filled entertainment. Along the way Wade survived a near-fatal dose of malaria in the Congo, been arrested for spying in South-East Asia and experienced a plane crash in the Amazon.
Leadership for the springtime event includes co-chairmen Lew and Kathleen Crampton, Jeffrey and Frances Fisher, Matthew and Helene Lorentzen, and John and Heidi Niblack. Host Committee Honorary Chairmen are Ben and Elizabeth Gordon. Corporate sponsors are Eau Palm Beach Resort & Spa, PNC Private Bank and Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Beach.
Tickets for the March 5 event are $500 per person and seating is limited. For event sponsorship and ticket information, please reach Marcy Hoffman, Director of Institutional Advancement, at mhoffman@sfsciencecenter.org or 561.370.7738.
The South Florida Science Center and Aquarium is located at 4801 Dreher Trail North, West Palm Beach and is open Monday – Friday from 9am-5pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm. For more information on Science Center events, call 561-832-1988 or visit www.sfsciencecenter.org.
Like the South Florida Science Center and Aquarium on Facebook and follow them on Twitter @SFScienceCenter.
