What do chocolate chip cookies have to do with saving kids from drowning?
For the rest of May, Chick-fil-A at Town Center at Boca Raton and Uptown Boca’s “Cookies for Kids” will benefit the YMCA of South Palm Beach County’s Drowning Prevention Programs.
“A portion of our cookie sales at $1.49 for a single cookie or a pack of six for $8.39 go to these programs,” said Paul Kiedis, who owns both restaurants.
Florida had 31 drownings in January alone, said Libby Moon, the Y’s drowning prevention coordinator.
“That’s why three layers of protection are so important: a door alarm, a gate alarm and a pool alarm that goes off if anything moves in the pool,” she said.
The YMCAs in Boca and Boynton just wrapped a Safety Around Water Week by offering a round of free swimming lessons to a group of 3- to 11-year-olds with no water experience.
Group swimming lessons are $65 for members, $150 for non-members for eight, 30-minute lessons for ages 3 to 5. Lessons cost the same but are 45-minutes for ages 6 to 11 and 12 to 17.
But the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County offers vouchers for applicants who qualify, Moon said.
The YMCA also offers private, adaptive and infants swimming lessons, water aerobics, swim teams and water safety. https://www.ymcaspbc.org/programs/aquatics
Pap Corps’ annual give announced: The Pap Corps Champions for Cancer Research has donated $2 million to Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.
The nonprofit makes multimillion dollar donations to support research at South Florida’s only NCI Designated cancer center. But this year’s gift required determination and innovative fundraising, the announcement said.
“I cannot tell you how grateful I am for the way our board and our 20,000 members rallied during these difficult times,” said Susan Dinter, The Pap Corps chair said in the statement.
All 50 chapters created virtual versions of fundraisers, developed new strategies, events and campaigns to raise money. The launch of the Giving Train monthly donation program, brick and bench sales at The Garden of Hope, and growth of events in Palm Beach helped.
“While we were unable to gather in person for this check presentation, I know everyone felt a tremendous sense of accomplishment,” said CEO Sally Berenzweig. https://www.thepapcorps.org/
Children’s charities helped by Boca West Children’s Foundation: Children’s charities benefited by a record year of fundraising from Boca West Children’s Foundation. Some $1.4 million was granted to local children’s charities during 2020-2021.
Included in the latest round of grants that totaled $500,000 were:
- Adolph & Rose Levis Jewish Community Center, American Association of Caregiving Youth, Best Foot Forward Foundation, Boca Helping Hands, Bound for College, Boys & Girls Clubs All Stars, and Boys and Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County.
- Caridad Center, Eda & Cliff Viner Community Scholars Foundation, Education Foundation of Palm Beach County, Faulk Center for Counseling, the Fuller Center, HomeSafe, JAFCO (Jewish Adoption & Foster Care Options) Place of Hope The Leighan and David Rinker Campus in Boca Raton
- Roots & Wings, Rotary Club of Boca Raton, SOS Children’s Village – Florida, Spirit of Giving, Sweet Dream Makers, Take Stock in Children Palm Beach County
- Unicorn Children’s Foundation, YMCA of South Palm Beach County, YMCA of the Palm Beaches, and the Youth Activity Center.
The Foundation’s new fundraising initiatives to support partner charities during the pandemic included the Partnership, raising $280,000 for 11 charities. “Bike for Tikes” provided hundreds of bicycles to kids for the holidays.
“We have exciting plans for the year ahead, including a partnership with the Palm Beach Marathon, ‘Walk the Walk” on Dec. 11, and our annual Golf Challenge on Nov. 1,” Pamela Weinroth, executive director and COO said in the announcement. https://www.bocawestfoundation.org/
